Kamaru Usman | UFC Betting Sites - The Best MMA Online Bookies

UFC 307: Khalil Rountree to upset Alex Pereira According to Former UFC Champion: “Shocks the world.”

UFC 307: Khalil Rountree to upset Alex Pereira According to Former UFC Champion: "Shocks the world." Kamaru Usman thinks Khalil Rountree will shock the world this Saturday night in Salt Lake City. After scoring a…

Kamaru Usman thinks Khalil Rountree will shock the world this Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

After scoring a pair of highlight-reel knockouts against Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka earlier this year, Alex Pereira returns to the Octagon at UFC 307 set to put his light heavyweight title on the line for the third time against heavy-hitting contender Khalil Rountree.

Currently, DraftKings sportsbook has ‘Poatan’ favored nearly 5-to-1 to come out on top and retain his 205-pound title. However, not everyone believes that ‘The War Horse’ will suffer the same fate that ‘Sweet Dream’ and ‘BJP’ did.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s anticipated title clash, former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman suggested that Rountree has as good a chance as anyone to find Pereira’s chin and send ‘Poatan’ crashing to the canvas.

Khalil Rountree’s explosive power could get the job done against ‘poatan’

“I’m going to shock everybody here, I think you are wrong why you are saying that everyone stands and strikes with him and they lose? I think that Khalil Rountree shocks the world, shocks the world,” Usman said on his Pound 4 Pound podcast. “Crazy things happen in Utah and look at our champions right now. I think Khalil Rountree is extremely explosive, and extremely powerful. His Muay Thai is incredible and when he’s launching them (shots), he’s going to find your face. The problem is his pacing.”

“When Khalil lets go, he lets everything go. so how is he going to do in rounds three, four and five if the fight somehow gets there. That’s my only concern. But in those first two rounds, I’m telling you right now that Khalil Rountree is as dangerous as anyone who Alex Pereira has fought, I’m telling you right now. (h/t BJPenn.com).

After a rocky start to his UFC career, Khalil Rountree has finally found his footing, winning five straight fights including some earth-shattering KOs against Modestas Bukauskas, Karl Roberson, Chris Daukaus, and Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith.

Originally, ‘The War Horse’ was scheduled to face Jamahal Hill in a title eliminator at UFC 303 in June, but he was forced to bow out after being temporarily suspended due to consumption of a banned substance. Instead, he finds himself with an opportunity to do what no man has and hand Pereira his first loss in the light heavyweight division.

Daniel Cormier Nearly Walks Out of Podcast After Host Dubs Jon Jones ‘The Michael Jordan of MMA’

Daniel Cormier nearly walked out on Kamaru Usman’s Pound 4 Pound podcast after the former welterweight world champion likened…

Daniel Cormier nearly walked out on Kamaru Usman’s Pound 4 Pound podcast after the former welterweight world champion likened Jon Jones to NBA legend Michael Jordan.

It’s no secret that ‘DC’ has a deep hatred for Jones. Their rivalry dates back almost a decade when the Hall of Famers first squared off at UFC 182 for the light heavyweight championship. ‘Bones’ won the bout via unanimous decision, but their iconic rivalry prompted the promotion to book a rematch between the two at UFC 214.

This time around, Jones finished Cormier in the third round, but the result was later overturned after Jones was found to have tested positive for a banned substance.

jones cormier 1215 getty ftr pujm8f0kcbjj15nx7ik2czw3g

Regularly citing Jones’ multiple banned substance violations and his slew of run-ins with the law, Cormier has regularly lobbied against the notion that ‘Bones’ is the undisputed GOAT of mixed martial arts.

So it should come as no surprise that ‘DC’ was ready to get up and walk out on Kamaru Usman after ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ suggested that Jon Jones is the Michael Jordan of MMA.

Daniel Cormier throws a fit over Jon Jones/Michael Jordan comparison

It all began as Usman started to sing the praises of Jones and likened him to Conor McGregor in that he, like the Irishman, has gotten to a point in his career where he can handpick his opponents. Cormier quickly chimed in, saying:

“I thought you were gonna say Michael Jordan or some crazy sh*t like that. If you would’ve said that I was leaving,”

Things got a little heated between the two when Usman doubled down, suggesting that Jones is an MMA version of the six-time NBA champion.

“To be honest, Jon is in a sense the Michael Jordan that we’ve seen in MMA,” Usman stated.

That pissed Cormier off something terrible. So much so that ‘DC’ threatened to get up and walk out of the interview altogether.

“No he isn’t,” Cormier replied matter-of-factly. “I’m about to leave, are you done with the interview? Do you just wanna be done? So you’re telling me Jon Jones is the Michael Jordan and Lebron James of MMA? You’re gonna sit up here in real life on five cameras (and say that)?”

Jon Jones is scheduled to return to the Octagon on November 16 when the promotion heads back to the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden, for UFC 309. There, ‘Bones’ will put his undisputed heavyweight championship on the line against two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic.

In all likelihood, Daniel Cormier will be on the call that night and get a cageside seat for Jones’ first heavyweight title defense.

Kamaru Usman Narrates Never-Before-Told High School Meeting With Daniel Cormier That Inspired His Career

In 2012, Kamaru Usman made his pro debut in MMA in what would be the start of an incredibly successful career. Like many martial artists that grew up in the United States, he came to the sport via a wrestling background – but there weren’t many role models for him to look up to. Having […]

Continue Reading Kamaru Usman Narrates Never-Before-Told High School Meeting With Daniel Cormier That Inspired His Career at MMA News.

In 2012, Kamaru Usman made his pro debut in MMA in what would be the start of an incredibly successful career.

Like many martial artists that grew up in the United States, he came to the sport via a wrestling background – but there weren’t many role models for him to look up to.

Having been born in Nigeria, Kamaru and his family moved to Dallas, Texas when he was just eight years old, which was a culture shock for him at the time.

Usman eventually found the path that would lead him to become a UFC champion, thanks to some peers who inspired him.

Kamaru Usman Details Daniel Cormier Meeting That Gave Him Something To Strive For

On a recent episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman and Henry Cejudo were joined by former UFC champ-champ Daniel Cormier.

Being eight years older, Cormier was someone that Usman looked up to when he first encountered him via wrestling.

“DC” and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal weren’t just incredibly impressive wrestlers that inspired “The Nigerian Nightmare”, they were people that he could relate to.

Usman told the story about the first time that he met Cormier in person, having seen him compete in wrestling, and how that impacted his own life and career trajectory.

“We saw you guys [Cormier and Lawal] trying to sneak in, trying to get in to train, to practice while there was a break, so we ran up and we was like, ‘Yo, King Mo!’… you didn’t give me no damn hug. I would tell you this though, you did dap us up and you were just like, talked a little to us for a little bit, asked us what, and then my friend was like, ‘Yo I know what you did, I saw what you did at real pro wrestling.’ And I remember you going, ‘What you see?’

“And you just joked with us and it was just that little moment, that little interaction that was so meaningful. We was like, ‘Oh my god, there’s these guys that look like us, they deal with similar circumstances that we have to deal with in this sport, and they’re at that level. Oh we can get there’. And I can’t tell you what that did for me.”

Continue Reading Kamaru Usman Narrates Never-Before-Told High School Meeting With Daniel Cormier That Inspired His Career at MMA News.

Kamaru Usman Rectifies Merab Dvalishvili’s Misconception About Fighting Umar Nurmagomedov

Umar Nurmagomedov would appear to be next in line for whoever comes out on top in this weekend’s UFC 306 main event. Champion Sean O’Malley looks to earn his second title defense when he takes on Merab Dvalishvili at the Sphere. However, in the lead up to this fight, Dvalishvili has explained why he doesn’t […]

Continue Reading Kamaru Usman Rectifies Merab Dvalishvili’s Misconception About Fighting Umar Nurmagomedov at MMA News.

Umar Nurmagomedov would appear to be next in line for whoever comes out on top in this weekend’s UFC 306 main event.

Champion Sean O’Malley looks to earn his second title defense when he takes on Merab Dvalishvili at the Sphere.

However, in the lead up to this fight, Dvalishvili has explained why he doesn’t believe that Nurmagomedov is currently at the front of the pack.

The cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov is undefeated at 18-0 but his only win over a ranked opponent was his most recent outing against Cory Sandhagen, which elevated him all the way to the #2-spot.

Dvalishvili has instead made the case for former flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo being his first challenger if he becomes champion on September 14, after winning three in a row since moving up to 135 pounds.

Kamaru Usman Argues Why Merab Dvalishvili Should Be Lobbying For Umar Nurmagomedov Fight Next

On a recent appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo, Dvalishvili once again explained why he doesn’t think Nurmagomedov has got enough high-level wins to justify a title shot.

There’s no denying that this would be a big fight for the UFC considering the legacy of Nurmagomedov’s family name and that’s something that Usman addressed.

After hearing Dvalishvili’s reasoning, he looked to get across to him why fighting Nurmagomedov should be an option that he considers rather than disregarding him.

“The Nigerian Nightmare” spoke about how it’s important for a champion to make the most of their time at the top by getting the biggest possible fights out there, which right now in the bantamweight division, means taking on the undefeated contender.

“I get it, if we’re going by the rankings senses, it makes more sense 100% but, at the same time, we have to understand and I want you to understand this. This is one thing I’m gonna tell you Merab. If by God’s grace you are the champion, you have to understand that as the champion, now I have to use this belt, this position to accumulate as much income as I can at that time because time waits for nobody.

“At some point, we’re gonna get old, we’re going to change and the belt is going to change hands, there’s going to be new champions even whether you retire the champion or not. There’s going to be a new champion so the job, the goal, is to pull in as much as you can while you’re in that position and we can’t deny that a fight with a guy like yourself and Umar Nurmagomedov would be a bigger sell than a fight with Deiveson Figueiredo at this time, even though Figueiredo is still, I think, a big name.

Continue Reading Kamaru Usman Rectifies Merab Dvalishvili’s Misconception About Fighting Umar Nurmagomedov at MMA News.

4 Fights We Need to See After UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Brady

Sean Brady is closing in on a title shot. The once-beaten welterweight picked up the biggest win of his career in the headliner of the UFC’s latest event at…

Kamaru Usman Responds to Belal Muhammad’s Diss: “Keep dropping corny, weak diss tracks”

Kamaru Usman was not impressed with Belal Muhammad’s diss track. Muhammad captured the welterweight world title in July, handily…

Kamaru Usman was not impressed with Belal Muhammad’s diss track.

Muhammad captured the welterweight world title in July, handily defeating Leon Edwards at UFC 304 in Manchester to bring the gold back home to Chicago. Since then, ‘Remember The Name’ has been ramping up his trash talk, going after undefeated division standout Shavkat Rakhmonov and former champion Kamaru Usman.

Flexing his creativity, Muhammad released an AI-generated diss track that poked fun a Usman’s current status inside the Octagon, having lost three straight fights.

New album dropping soon pic.twitter.com/pVMOzzeqyH

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) August 27, 2024

It’s not the catchiest of tunes, but Muhammad certainly gets an A for effort.

Kamaru Usman reminds Belal Muhammad who he’s talking to

However, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ was not amused. Addressing the recent jabs from Muhammad on his Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman was quick to remind the newly minted champ that if he ever wants to get a gander at some gold, he can come check out the six belts sitting in Usman’s trophy room.

“Imagine how I feel. I’m like ‘Who the f*ck is that guy?’,” Usman said. “I didn’t know who this guy was a couple of years ago or last year, I didn’t hear his name. I don’t even remember his name! More power to Belal if that’s how he feels. He’s paying for someone to do a diss song or whatever, that song was as corny as can be. Looking at a gold belt? I have six of them in the room next door. I can look at belts all day…

“If I want his belt, I’m coming to take his belt. I want the fight, but when you’ve got him saying ‘Oh I’m going to sit down I’ll let you guys fight..’ listen, that’s not a recipe for how you make money. So it is what it is, but at some point, he’s going to have to step in there with me and we’ll have to settle it. But keep dropping corny, weak diss tracks…it was like a lullaby or something for me” (h/t BJPenn.com).

It’s been nearly a year since Usman last competed, suffering a majority decision loss against Khamzat Chimaev in Abu Dhabi last October. Before that, he dropped back-to-back bouts against Leon Edwards.

Realistically, Usman and Muhammad shouldn’t even be jawing at one another just yet. Clearly, the Nigerian fan favorite has some work to do before he’s worked his way back to title contention, but Muhammad likely likes his chances against Usman much better than against the 18-0 ‘Nomad.’