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VIDEO: Former Rivals Colby Covington, Kamaru Usman Have Awkward Encounter At UFC Vegas 102

Colby Covington didn’t seem to get the response he was after when bumping into former bitter rival Kamaru Usman at Saturday’s UFC event at the Apex. The polarizing former interim welterweight champion was in attendance this weekend as the mixed martial arts leader staged its latest UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas. As has often […]

Colby Covington didn’t seem to get the response he was after when bumping into former bitter rival Kamaru Usman at Saturday’s UFC event at the Apex.

The polarizing former interim welterweight champion was in attendance this weekend as the mixed martial arts leader staged its latest UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.

As has often been the case in recent weeks and months, “Chaos” was streaming live on his Twitch account. And while speaking to his followers, Covington crossed paths with one of the night’s ESPN desk analysts, whom it’s fair to say he’s more than familiar with.

But while his and Usman’s feud is far from as heated as it was when they shared the Octagon twice a number of years ago, Covington’s attempt to initiate a conversation looked to be brushed off by the former undisputed champ.

“Yes, that was Usman guys,” Covington said after the awkward interaction. “I don’t think he wanted to talk on the stream ’cause he didn’t want the chat to hear what he had to say. But yeah, we’ll definitely chop it up a little bit. Maybe we’ll get a picture, or maybe we’ll just fight. You never know, when ‘Chaos’ is in the building, it’s unpredictable. … No hard feelings.”

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— ?. (@C0MB4TT) February 16, 2025

Two of Covington’s three failed attempts at reaching the welterweight throne came opposite Usman at UFC 245 in 2019 and UFC 268 in 2021. While he was stopped in the fifth frame first time around, “Chaos” was unable to outpoint the then-champ in the rematch two years later.

Since then, the 36-year-old has gone 1-2, defeating Jorge Masvidal but losing emphatically to both Leon Edwards and Joaquin Buckley. His future is uncertain in 2025 following his setback at the hands of “New Mansa” last December.

Joaquin Buckley Calls Out Kamaru Usman for April Clash in Kansas City: “Let Me Get a Former Champ.”

Joaquin Buckley Calls Out Kamaru Usman for April Clash in Kansas City: "Let Me Get a Former Champ." After earning the biggest win of his career in December, Joaquin Buckley has his sights set on a former…

After earning the biggest win of his career in December, Joaquin Buckley has his sights set on a former world champion.

‘New Mansa’ extended his unbeaten streak to six with a dominant doctor’s stoppage TKO against Colby Covington at UFC Tampa.

Now, Buckley is lobbying for a fight with the man who beat ‘Chaos’ twice inside the Octagon — former UFC welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman. During a recent interview with Parry Punch, Buckley called for a clash with Usman, suggesting the two could headline the UFC’s return to Kansas City on April 26.

“I would like a former champion on my resume and would be Kamaru be it, right? Got Colby, right? Interim champ,” Buckley said. “But I’m like, let me get a former champ too. And somebody that was decorated to the point where they thought he was gonna be the welterweight GOAT at some point in his career. Let me go ahead, get him up out of there, get busy with him, and then go get my belt, right?

“Because I feel like it’s the names, right? Kamaru Usman just saw that, and he knows he’s next. We headline anyway.
I heard something special is going on in Kansas.”

Thus far, six fights have been announced for the Fight Night card in the Heart of America, but no main event.

Is joaquin buckley in consideration for kamaru usman’s return opponent?

While Buckley has been busy working his way up the contender’s ladder, the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ has been sitting on the sidelines after suffering his third-straight loss against Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023.

The majority decision defeat against ‘Borz’ came after Usman had already fallen twice against ex-champ Leon Edwards—dropping his 170-pound crown to ‘Rocky’ before failing to reclaim it in a rematch the following year.

Despite his inactivity, Usman has remained adamant about returning to the Octagon before calling it a career. Previously, he’s floated the idea of fighting names like Ian Machado Garry, Jack Della Maddalena, and, of course, reigning welterweight king Belal Muhammad. However, the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ did leave the door open for a potential move to middleweight, if the fight is right.

“It’s an interesting spot. I’ve never been in a spot like this… For me, I made my career being a welterweight…. But, for the right fight, middleweight makes sense,” Usman said on the Anik & Florian podcast last summer.

Kamaru Usman Names Fight He ‘Doesn’t Like’ For Dricus Du Plessis, And It’s Not Khamzat Chimaev

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman envisions one particular contender posing a real threat to the reign of middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis. Du Plessis extended his rule over the 185-pound division beyond its second defense this past weekend when he headlined the UFC 312 pay-per-view alongside challenger Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia. 13 months […]

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman envisions one particular contender posing a real threat to the reign of middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis.

Du Plessis extended his rule over the 185-pound division beyond its second defense this past weekend when he headlined the UFC 312 pay-per-view alongside challenger Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia.

13 months on from his crowning at the polarizing American’s defense, the South African recorded a much more definitive victory over Strickland second time around, smashing his nose en route to a lopsided decision.

Moving forward, “Stillknocks” is widely expected to face a test from Khamzat Chimaev next. Usman, however, sees a different top contender being a problem for Du Plessis down the line.

During a recent episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside fellow former UFC champion Henry Cejudo, “The Nigerian Nightmare” highlighted the talents of Nassourdine Imavov.

“A guy like Nassourdine Imavov, the way that he (Du Plessis) fought Sean Strickland last night, I don’t like that fight for DDP,” Usman said. “I don’t like it really.

“We saw how the standup was with Israel. When you primarily just stand up with Imavov, man, he might be the sharper guy besides Israel Adesanya right now with the striking in that division. Sharp hands,” Usman continued, throwing another name into the mix. “I would have to go also with Brendan Allen’s got really, really good hands.”

Imavov is fresh off a victory over a former adversary of Du Plessis’, ex-two-time champ Israel Adesanya, whom the Frenchman knocked out in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.

Belal Muhammad Attempts To Put Kamaru Usman In His Place: ‘You’re Just A Podcaster Now!’

UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad hasn’t liked the recent remarks coming from the mouth of his division’s former titleholder, Kamaru Usman. Usman hasn’t competed since October 2023, sitting out the entirety of 2024 following a narrow decision loss to the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev up at middleweight. Prior to that, he suffered consecutive defeats at the […]

UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad hasn’t liked the recent remarks coming from the mouth of his division’s former titleholder, Kamaru Usman.

Usman hasn’t competed since October 2023, sitting out the entirety of 2024 following a narrow decision loss to the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev up at middleweight.

Prior to that, he suffered consecutive defeats at the hands of Leon Edwards, once to lose the title and then to fail in his attempt at regaining it.

Nevertheless, “The Nigerian Nightmare” hasn’t lost faith in his ability to still compete at the top, something he plans to prove in his return later this year.

Though it remains to be seen what opposition that could come against, Usman won’t be short on options. He’s spent recent times berating those in the division who frequently call him out, outlining that he will face whomever once fit and healthy.

But during a recent appearance on MMA Junkie Radio, Muhammad criticized the tone of those comments with a fiery onslaught, which included him branding Usman a “coward” and “just a podcaster.”

“It’s so funny when you have a guy like him, right?” Muhammad said. “He’s on a three-fight losing streak, and when these guys are calling him out, he’s acting like — he’s putting himself on this pedestal like he’s still the champion, like they shouldn’t be calling him out. Bro, you’re just a podcaster now. You haven’t fought in over a year, and if you’re not gonna defend your ranking, then leave, quit!

“I just need Usman to get a win,” Muhammad continued. “Like, he sucks so bad right now, like it’s just embarrassing where I just feel bad for him. Like he goes out there, you obviously have to fight somebody that’s on a streak. I think (Joaquin) Buckley called him out. Buckley’s been killing it at 170 (pounds). He just made Colby (Covington) look like a rookie. I think he goes out there and figures out a way to beat him. I know they offered him JDM (Jack Della Maddalena), but he turned it down because he’s a coward.”

The pair’s heated exchanges have certainly set the stage nicely for a possible showdown. For the time being, though, that is some way off from coming to fruition.

Muhammad will first have his sights on Shavkat Rakhmonov. After the cancellation of their planned headliner at UFC 310 last month following an injury to the champ, they’re expected to renew hostilities for the next welterweight title fight.

Usman, meanwhile, remains at the very least one win over a high-ranked contender away from reinserting himself into the championship conversation.

Belal Muhammad Attempts To Put Kamaru Usman In His Place: ‘You’re Just A Podcaster Now!’

UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad hasn’t liked the recent remarks coming from the mouth of his division’s former titleholder, Kamaru Usman.

Usman hasn’t competed since October 2023, sitting out the entirety of 2024 following a narrow decision loss to the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev up at middleweight.

Prior to that, he suffered consecutive defeats at the hands of Leon Edwards, once to lose the title and then to fail in his attempt at regaining it.

Nevertheless, “The Nigerian Nightmare” hasn’t lost faith in his ability to still compete at the top, something he plans to prove in his return later this year.

“It’s so funny when you have a guy like him, right?” Muhammad said. “He’s on a three-fight losing streak, and when these guys are calling him out, he’s acting like — he’s putting himself on this pedestal like he’s still the champion, like they shouldn’t be calling him out. Bro, you’re just a podcaster now. You haven’t fought in over a year, and if you’re not gonna defend your ranking, then leave, quit!

“I just need Usman to get a win,” Muhammad continued. “Like, he sucks so bad right now, like it’s just embarrassing where I just feel bad for him. Like he goes out there, you obviously have to fight somebody that’s on a streak. I think (Joaquin) Buckley called him out. Buckley’s been killing it at 170 (pounds). He just made Colby (Covington) look like a rookie. I think he goes out there and figures out a way to beat him. I know they offered him JDM (Jack Della Maddalena), but he turned it down because he’s a coward.”

The pair’s heated exchanges have certainly set the stage nicely for a possible showdown. For the time being, though, that is some way off from coming to fruition.

Usman, meanwhile, remains at the very least one win over a high-ranked contender away from reinserting himself into the championship conversation.

Ex-UFC Champion Offers Candid Advice on Jamahal Hill’s Path to Redemption Against ‘Poatan’

Jamahal Hill needs to stop fighting with fans online and focus on the task at hand. ‘Sweet Dreams’ has…

Jamahal Hill needs to stop fighting with fans online and focus on the task at hand.

‘Sweet Dreams’ has a clear path to a rematch with Alex Pereira, but it all hinges on his performance this Saturday night when he returns to the Octagon for a showdown with another former light heavyweight titleholder, Jiri Prochazka.

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Unfortunately, most of the noise surrounding Hill hasn’t been about his high-stakes clash with ‘BJP,’ but his penchant for arguing with fans on social media and making excuses about his massive misfire against Pereira at UFC 300.

Hill has even gone so far as to extend an invite to users online, welcoming them to pull up to his gym anytime for an impromptu sparring session.

Kamaru Usman thinks fans are keeping Jamahal Hill relevant

While discussing Hill’s return to the Octagon at UFC 311, Kamaru Usman suggested that ‘Sweet Dreams’ finds himself in a favorable position despite being constantly “clowned” by fans on social media.

A position that could lead him directly to a rematch with ‘Poatan’ in 2025 if he plays his cards right.

“It’s like bro, stop that,” Usman said on his Pound-4-Pound pocast while addressing Hill’s open challenge to fans. “You are a former champion. Listen, you are getting clowned online because of what you chose to do. What you’re not realizing now is, yes, people may be clowning but guess what? They’re talking about you. They’re keeping you in the mix. Your name is still connected to Alex Pereira… I know, as fighters, we’re very, very sensitive.

“We take a lot of things personal, especially when we’re in the fight, but man, let it go… Don’t worry about all that. When you go in there, do your job, and then you’ve already created that narrative. You make a case for yourself to where you go back in there and you fight Alex Pereira. I like this fight [between Hill and Prochazka]” (h/t Sportskeeda).

If Hill lands a decisive victory over Prochazka in Los Angeles, he will not only hold a victory over the division’s No. 2 ranked contender but he’ll also make his claim for a sequel scrap with ‘Poatan’ damn near undeniable.

But if he loses, Hill will probably continue to be treated like the laughingstock of the division.