Kamaru Usman stated his relationship with UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is far from friendly.
Both fighters have scheduled bouts. Muhammad is set to headline UFC 315 this Saturday, defending his title for the first time against Jack Della Maddalena. Meanwhile, Usman is making his return after almost two years away, headlining UFC Atlanta against Joaquin Buckley.
According to Usman, the tension escalated after Muhammad captured the championship, with the new titleholder targeting him on social media. Usman mentioned he preferred to resolve things verbally, which they attempted during a notable, though unaired, episode of his `Pound 4 Pound` podcast, co-hosted by Henry Cejudo.
The discussion became heated, and while further details weren`t disclosed, the situation has reached a point where a backstage encounter at a UFC event could potentially erupt into conflict.
Asked about this possibility by ESPN MMA, Usman responded, “Probably.” He elaborated that while he is typically calm outside the octagon, his mindset shifts when actively competing. Having been away for nearly two years, he explained that the transition back to being “in the thick of it” puts him on alert. People outside the fight world often expect fighters to be constantly aggressive, asking him why he is so calm when not fighting, but he isn`t naturally that way.
He noted that he even discussed this shift in mindset with Georges St-Pierre, who conveyed a similar experience. Consequently, now that he`s back competing actively, Usman feels security might be necessary if he and Muhammad were to meet backstage.
Muhammad holds an impressive unbeaten streak of 11 fights, having climbed the divisional ranks to earn his title opportunity at UFC 304 last July. There, “Remember the Name” delivered a dominant performance against Leon Edwards to claim his first UFC championship.
While an extensive winning streak is commendable, the number of successful title defenses is the crucial metric for evaluating a fighter`s place among the division`s historical elite.
Usman was asked if Muhammad possesses the capability to emulate figures like Matt Hughes, Georges St-Pierre, and himself by establishing a dominant, long-term championship reign in the welterweight division.
“I think so,” Usman replied, elaborating that sustained dominance in a division requires a fighter to be proficient in all aspects of mixed martial arts. He observed that divisions where the title frequently changes hands often have champions who are deficient in certain skills.
“Belal has now reached a point,” Usman continued, “where, similar to myself, Hughes, and St-Pierre, he is reasonably good in all areas. His punching power hasn`t been prominently displayed yet, but as champion, given time to build confidence in that aspect, we might see it develop. Therefore, I believe the potential for dominance exists, but it will only be realized if he can overcome a variety of opponents with different styles, such as myself, Buckley, Michael Morales, Ian Machado Garry, and Shavkat Rakhmonov.”
“Successfully navigating these diverse challenges,” Usman concluded, “is what ultimately defines whether you have built a significant legacy for yourself.”
