Believing himself to be the rightful owner of the BMF title, UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has offered to vacate the belt just for this weekend’s UFC 272 main event.
Despite the absence of official gold, many have suggested a ceremonial strap should be on the line. In 2019, Masvidal took home the specially-created BMF belt following his victory over Nate Diaz.
After some brought up the possibility of the belt being on the line this weekend, “The Nigerian Nightmare” took to Twitter to offer a generous loan of it for UFC 272.
I will relinquish the BMF Belt just for this fight #UFC272
During an interview with TMZ Sports, the topic of adding the BMF strap to the mix at UFC 272 came up. In response, “Chaos” branded it a fake belt and claimed he’ll be carrying four titles with him to the cage on March 5.
“I have a real title; he has a fake title. I could care less about his title. I have all the titles that matter: the people’s champion, America’s champion, Donald Trump’s favorite fighter, and Miami’s title. So I’m gonna put ’em all on the line (at UFC 272) to show you why I’m the king of Miami.”
We can’t imagine Bruce Buffer will be including those titles in Covington’s pre-fight introduction…
Canelo Álvarez seems open to the possibility of one day fighting UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.
Both fighters are arguably the #1 pound-for-pound best in their respective sports and a potential crossover between the two could see them bring in colossal pay-per-view figures. Usman previously proposed the idea when discussing his boxing ability and wanting to showcase why he’s the best in the world.
Now, it appears Canelo’s certainly interested in what the fight would look like one day, as he was asked on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani whether he would entertain the fight.
“Payday,” joked Canelo. “That’s the payday I know. Maybe, why not, you never say no, right?”
However, it appears for now at least that Canelo remains tunnel-visioned on cementing his legacy amongst the greatest to grace the sport of boxing ahead of his fight against Dmitry Bivol.
“It’s not really on my mind. I want a really good legacy for my career then we can talk about other things right later.”
The 31-year-old’s aiming to retire by 37, meaning there’s still plenty of time for a crossover to occur. It still remains possible that we may see him take on Usman before then should the proposal for the super fight come his way.
With both fighters in the primes of their career, now would be the time to make it happen. Usman appears to be becoming less interested in defending his UFC welterweight title with every fight having previously spoken about his interest in fighting for the light heavyweight title.
One roadblock in the way of making the super fight happen would be Dana White’s stance on his #1 pound-for-pound fighting Canelo. Back in November, Usman again spoke of his interest in the fight. In response, White said “He doesn’t want to fight Canelo,” with the UFC president indirectly hinting at the boxing ability of Canelo being superior.
Would you be interested in seeing Usman taking on Canelo in a boxing match?
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman doesn’t believe Colby Covington will have an overwhelming grappling advantage against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 272 this weekend.
Ahead of Saturday’s main event, not many are better placed to provide a prediction and breakdown of the contest than Usman, a fighter who’s spent nearly 50 minutes in the Octagon with Covington and over half an hour in the cage with Masvidal.
Leading into the clash between “Chaos” and “Gamebred,” many are expecting the former to boast a considerable edge in the grappling and wrestling department. But despite securing five takedowns and managing over 10 minutes of control time in his first meeting with Masvidal, Usman believes the Miami native can hold his own.
During a recent interview with Megan Olivi for ESPN MMA, Usman was asked whether he expects Covington to utilize an “overwhelming” grappling advantage inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.
“The Nigerian Nightmare” responded by suggesting Masvidal’s ability to return to his feet was surprising to him and leads him to believe any advantage in that realm for Covington won’t be substantial.
“No, I don’t think so. I think the thing that Jorge does very well is his ability to get back up,” said Usman. “And I was actually shocked in my fight with him because I am more of a control guy, and so his ability to get back up a few times let me know that this is something that he’s done for a long, long time. I think Covington understands that as well.”
With that in mind, the reigning welterweight titleholder expects Covington to plan accordingly. Rather than push for top control on the ground, Usman expects the former interim champion to employ a grueling approach that will have the aim of fatiguing Masvidal.
“I don’t think that’s Covington’s plan. I don’t think his plan is to hold him down. I think his plan is to drag him down, make him get back up, and drag him back down; make him get up and drag him back down. Eventually, wear him out,” Usman concluded.
While some have branded it a classic striker vs. grappler contest, Covington’s displays on the feet against Usman and Masvidal’s ability to avoid ground control means the clash has many more dimensions to it.
Do you agree with Kamaru Usman’s take on Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal’s grappling?
Following blockbuster 2022 headliners at UFC 270 and 271, which saw a heavyweight unification showdown in California and a long-awaited middleweight rematch in Houston, Las Vegas is set to play host to the year’s first non-title pay-per-view main event.
Heading into this weekend’s welterweight collision, many have understandably branded the headliner a classic grappler vs. striker contest. One man who’s faced the different attacks of both Masvidal and Covington is Usman.
Discussing Masvidal’s skills, Usman suggested “Gamebred” has all the tools to battle Covington’s imposing wrestling game and land damaging shots on the feet.
“I think he (Masvidal) can potentially win this fight because one thing about Masvidal is he’s one of the only guys who is, in his stance, he’s so tall in his stance,” said Usman. “But he’s able to defend takedowns from some of the best wrestlers. He’s very, very good; his striking is so relaxed and so fast, and if he’s able to touch you, it might not feel as hard, but he can touch that button and shut the lights out.
“Being able to run across the Octagon in five seconds and land a knee like that (against Ben Askren) just shows the different level of athleticism,” Usman continued. “He’s an athlete, he’s a skilled striker, he’s a skilled fighter, and he definitely has the tools to be able to land that shot to steal this fight away from Covington.”
Usman: Masvidal Won’t Be As Easy To Take Down As Covington Thinks
The leading narrative heading into UFC 272 fight week is the history between the two headliners. Having trained together, cornered each other, and lived with one another, Masvidal and Covington head into their grudge match with perhaps more information than they’ve ever had on an opponent.
But despite that, Usman believes both may be underestimating each other’s growth since their unceremonious split.
The reigning welterweight king suggested Masvidal will be a lot harder to take down than Covington will be anticipating, a sentiment he believes also applies across the cage to Masvidal’s standup expectations.
“One thing I will say is I think in this fight, Colby’s going to realize that it’s harder to take Masvidal down in an actual fight than when they were in practice,” Usman suggested. “I know in his mind, he’s gonna expect it to be like it was when they practiced. But they spent some time apart now, and I think he’s gonna realize it’s a lot harder to take him down in a fight than it is in practice.
“And Masvidal, on the flip side, he’s gonna realize that it’s a lot harder to strike with this guy now than back when I was beating him up when he first came into the sport,” concluded Usman.
Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington
While predictions may be split and the result up in the air, one thing is certain as we enter fight week: We’re set for an animosity-fueled and hostile pre-fight build. For those set to attend the press conference on Thursday, that’s undoubtedly a mouth-watering prospect.
Who do you think will have their hand raised in the UFC 272 main event, Colby Covington or Jorge Masvidal?
Conor McGregor’s next fight is an opportunity for “The Notorious” to revitalize his UFC career.
It’s unclear who his next opponent will be. However, we can look at several fighters who want a “Money fight” against McGregor.
(via Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Conor McGregor’s Losses to Dustin Poirier
McGregor hopes to rebound from two losses against his rival “The Diamond” Dustin Poirier.
He already had a 1st round KO win over Poirier at UFC 178 on Sep. 27, 2014, at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, the fight happened at featherweight, and they both had evolved as fighters since their first encounter.
“The Diamond” got his revenge, defeating McGregor by TKO in the 2nd round at UFC 257 on Jan. 24, 2021, on Fight Island in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. While McGregor acted friendly with Poirier before the rematch, he changed his attitude in their last fight.
Before their third fight, McGregor insulted both Poirier and his wife. He also posted a screenshot of Poirier’s wife’s DM request on Twitter, insinuating infidelity. Although the MMA superstar tried to get under his opponent’s skin, Poirier got the last laugh.
At the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Poirier defeated McGregor by TKO in the 1st round at UFC 264 on Jul. 10, 2021. The MMA superstar suffered a broken leg (tibia) during the fight, and the referee ended the fight due to doctor stoppage.
(via: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
Leg Injury
The injury resulted in McGregor having surgery, which has kept him out of competition. Coach John Kavanagh also shared that McGregor suffered an ankle injury before the third fight with Poirier.
While he isn’t ready for fights yet, the Irishman has recovered from his surgery and walks without assistance. He appeared healthy as he supported his SBG Ireland teammates at Bellator 275 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, on Feb. 25.
He may also be moving up at welterweight for his next fight. McGregor has a history of fighting at welterweight unless his fight has UFC Lightweight Championship implications.
On a two-fight losing streak and ranked ninth at lightweight, it doesn’t seem likely he’ll be close to a championship opportunity.
(via Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Possible Opponents for McGregor’s Next Fight
As McGregor prepares to make his UFC return, it’s time to consider possible opponents for the former two-division champion. Although McGregor is UFC’s biggest star, he needs a popular challenger to fight against.
(via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)
Nate Diaz
UFC fans have anticipated a third fight between McGregor and Nate Diaz as both fighters have a win over the other at welterweight. The rivalry has also created two successful pay-per-view buy rates with UFC 196 and 202.
Although Nate Diaz is on a two-fight losing streak, he impressed fans with his last performance by hurting Leon Edwards at UFC 263 at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Jun. 12, 2021. Diaz also shared that he wants to stop fighting soon, so the UFC may decide to have the trilogy before he retires.
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Dustin Poirier
While Dustin Poirier has two wins against McGregor, fans still wonder what would’ve happened if the injury didn’t occur in their last fight.
“I don’t think so. I don’t think the chapter will ever be closed, said Poirier(h/t Harvey Leonard).
“The Diamond” has teased a move to welterweight after losing to Charles Oliveria for the UFC Lightweight Championship at UFC 269 at the T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 11, 2021. A welterweight fight against McGregor adds a different element to a potential bout, as McGregor has more experience in the weight class than Poirier.
It could also benefit Dustin Poirier to adjust to a new weight class against an opponent he’s defeated twice.
“Gamebred” Jorge Masvidal presents a unique opportunity for the UFC and Conor McGregor.
Masvidal is considered the reigning BMF Champion, although he’s lost twice to UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 and 261. Since winning the BMF title, the UFC hasn’t made him defend it. The company may not recognize it as a legitimate championship, but it is an option they can use to promote McGregor’s next PPV main event fight.
Masvidal has shown interest in fighting the Dublin native in the past. UFC President Dana White downplayed a potential matchup and thought Jorge Masvidal was too big for McGregor. However, the UFC could have McGregor challenge “Gamebred” for the BMF Championship.
The company may also have Masvidal and McGregor fight without needing a title. The BMF Champion will compete against Colby Covington in a non-title fight main event at UFC 272 at the T-Mobile Arena on March 5.
Whether Masvidal wins or losses, the UFC has shown faith that he doesn’t need to use the BMF title to sell a PPV. Alongside McGregor, he could create intrigue for fans to want to see them fight.
(Image Credits: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC & Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Another opportunity for McGregor is the possibility of beating a ranked welterweight. “Gamebred” is ranked sixth in the division, and a win for McGregor could make him an instant contender for the UFC Welterweight Championship.
He’s also teased challenging Kamaru Usman for the title and thinks he could be a three-division UFC champion. Beating Masvidal at welterweight gives McGregor options to be a welterweight or lightweight title contender.
(Photo Credit: Rex / Shutterstock GQ Magazine)
When Will Conor McGregor’s Next Fight Be?
It’s unclear what the UFC has planned for the Conor McGregor next fight. Regardless, the UFC star is looking forward to ending his two-fight losing streak and showing that the surgery made him stronger. The company seems to have its PPV schedule planned until June.
Conclusion
Despite his uncertain UFC return, McGregor has plenty of opponents for a comeback fight. However, the MMA superstar will need to get cleared by doctors and resume raining before he can step into the Octagon and score another victory.
MMA News will provide an update when more information is available.
Israel Adesanya has slammed Ali Abdelaziz for comments he recently made about a superfight between the UFC Middleweight Champion and the reigning welterweight king, Kamaru Usman.
Adesanya and Usman are currently two of the most dominant champions in MMA’s premier promotion. The pair have enjoyed a similar rise up the ladder of their respective divisions, culminating in championship glory and multiple defenses.
But owing to their national connection and both men’s desire to avoid dethroning a fellow African titleholder, the matchup seems unlikely. Usman even recently claimed it would take a $100 million offer to force him into the Octagon with Adesanya.
Despite that, Usman’s manager, Dominance MMA Management CEO Abdelaziz, is still harboring hope of it coming together. He’s even suggested that if the pair are “real brothers,” they’d agree to make each other some money by sharing the cage.
The continent of Africa is quickly emerging as a new #MMA superpower 🌍
Ali Abdelaziz lays out his plan to see Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya meet inside the cage 👊💥🇳🇬
It’s safe to say Abdelaziz’s comments haven’t gone down well with the reigning middleweight king…
During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Adesanya responded to the suggestion he and Usman should ditch their allegiance in the name of money-making.
“The Last Stylebender” slammed Abdelaziz’s view as “disgusting,” and suggested Usman’s manager wouldn’t push for the superfight if he really was a fellow “African brother.”
“The way [Abdelaziz] did it was just disgusting. I usually express that the way we do it in our gym and the code that we have,” said Adesanya. “And like I said, me and Kamaru definitely feel the same way. What’s the point? This is bigger than us. Kids are gonna look at us generations from now and be like, ‘Those guys from Nigeria, they did that. They ruled this whole thing till they left, and they left on top’—same with Francis as well.
“[Abdelaziz] always comes up to me, ‘My brother, African brother!’ this and that. So I’m like, if you’re supposed to be a brother brother, why you trying to be selfish now and look at the dollar signs?” Adesanya concluded.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Q4wIyACBU/
Given Adesanya’s reaction, it seems it would take a spectacular falling out in order to make him share the Octagon with Usman. With that said, it appears both men will have to look to light heavyweight if they’re to achieve two-division success.
The following event took place on this day one year ago. The article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
On This Day In MMA History One Year Ago…
Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns exceeded expectations.
The two fighters met in a welterweight title bout on Saturday night (February 13, 2021) at the UFC 258 pay-per-view event from Las Vegas, Nevada at the UFC Apex facility.
It was a chaotic start as Burns stunned him within 30 seconds in the first round and got Usman on wobbly legs. However, his momentum was halted as he threw a head kick and fell to the ground. Burns wasn’t letting Usman get comfortable as he was always moving forward. Usman used his jabs nicely though and mixed things up with leg kicks.
Usman stunned him with a right hand then unloaded on him. Usman later dropped him with a jab in the second round. The start of the third round saw Usman drop him with a right hand then followed up on the ground with strikes.
Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:
In his previous fight, Usman got a decision win over Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251 pay-per-view event from Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island aka Fight Island. Usman beat Colby Covington by TKO at UFC 245 in his first title defense. Usman captured the title from Tyron Woodley when he scored a dominant unanimous win in the co-headliner of the UFC 235 on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was on a 14-fight winning streak heading into this fight with 10 of those wins coming under the UFC banner.
For Burns, he was coming off a decision win over Tyron Woodley in May 2020. Before that, he got a TKO win over Demian Maia and a decision win over Gunnar Nelson at UFC Copenhagen. This all came after he moved up from lightweight to defeat Alexey Kunchenko in his welterweight debut. In all, he was on a six-fight winning streak.
The following article was published on this day one year ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.
On This Day One Year Ago…
[ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 13, 2021, 12:00 PM]
Headline: Usman: UFC Africa Is Inevitable & Needs Support From The UFC Brass
Kamaru Usman is looking forward to the day when he can finally have the UFC welterweight belt wrapped around his waist in an arena full of his countrymen.
The UFC kicked off 2021 with the first network TV event since December of 2018. In the main event, Max Holloway put on a show that harked back to the days of Ali on ABC and put the world on notice that the UFC is continuing to advance further into the mainstream zeitgeist. But what better way is there to convey that same message than to have a presence in as many continents as possible, including unventured territory, such as the homeland of UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, #1 heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou, and UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman?
How Far Away Is A UFC Africa Megacard?
Kamaru Usman and his compatriots have been pushing for a UFC Africa show, and though it still yet to happen even in the light of two African-born champions, Usman believes it’s only a matter of time.
“Honestly, I don’t think we’re far at all,” Usman said in a UFC 258 media scrum about UFC Africa. “I think the tough thing is just the higher-ups and the execs just are able to say, ‘OK, we’re going to do whatever it takes to make it happen. Because obviously, there’s intricate details that a lot of people don’t know that goes into bringing events to certain places, just financial-wise. And not just financial, but also logistics and making sure everything works out.
“The Nigerian Nightmare” Kamaru Usman. Credit: Associated Press
“There’s a couple of countries down in the continent of Africa who are definitely capable of being able to host and make this thing come to fruition. And it’s just kind of up to the company to basically decide if, hey, we’re going to make this happen.”
The same way Max Holloway’s performance on UFC on ABC 1 reminded combat sports fans of the days of Ali’s greatness on a national display, Usman, Adesanya, Ngannou and others can issue the same reminder of what an international mega event like “The Rumble in the Jungle” feels like.
Kamaru Usman Believes UFC Africa Is Inevitable
To Usman’s point, there are, in fact, several countries, and more specifically venues, that are more than capable of hosting a massive UFC event, such as the FNB Stadium in South Africa, the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt, Abuja Stadium in Nigeria, and of course the home of “The Rumble in the Jungle,” the Stade Tata Raphaël. The possibilities are endless with names like Ngannou, Adesanya, and Usman in any of these arenas, and they are also inevitable, says Usman.
“…Sooner than later, we’re about to have three African-born champions all holding belts,” Usman declared. “So I mean, we’re going to have to make something happen sooner or later. And I envision that being just one of the most memorable and massive events that this company has ever seen.”
In order for Usman’s vision to come off exactly as he imagines it, he will need to maintain his status as the undisputed UFC welterweight champion. Standing in the way of this requirement is former teammate Gilbert Burns, who will be looking to be making UFC history for his own country tonight by becoming the first Brazilian welterweight champion in UFC history. In a matter of hours, we’ll learn which of these patriots will exit with their dream intact, and which one will have their UFC 258 experience warp into a nightmare.
Who do you think will represent their country with a win tonight: Nigeria’s Kamaru Usman or Brazil’s Gilbert Burns?
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has shed some more light on why he considered challenging for former light heavyweight king Jan Blachowicz’s title.
Since ascending to the 170-pound mountaintop in 2019, an achievement that came through a dominant five-round performance against Tyron Woodley, Usman has firmly established himself as one of the most dominant champions in the UFC, in a one-on-one race for welterweight GOAT status, and arguably in the conversation for the greatest of all time, period.
Having beaten off two challenges each from Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal and finishing Gilbert Burns, “The Nigerian Nightmare” sits comfortably on the welterweight throne, but also with the pound-for-pound crown in his possession.
Usman’s Two-Division Aspirations Derived From One Matchup
Now, as the discussion surrounding a potential pursuit of glory at a second weight continues, Usman has clarified his comments.
During an interview with CBS Sports, the welterweight titleholder explained that his desire to jump up to 205 pounds derived from his feelings towards a fight against Blachowicz, an opponent he believes he’d match up well with.
“I was very serious. I got some flak for it, and people were thinking, ‘Oh, no, he’s just saying this.’ No, I was very serious,” said Usman. “Because Israel Adesanya is the middleweight champion and Jan Blachowicz was the light heavyweight champion, I saw that matchup and I said, ‘Hey, that’s a fight that I can deal with. It’s Jan.
“No disrespect to Jan. I think he’s a great competitor, he’s a very powerful guy, he’s got a lot of power in his hands, but I thought that was a matchup that favored me,” Usman added. “I thought if I had skipped the middleweight class, went up to light heavyweight, I definitely would be a champ-champ. But unfortunately, he’s no longer the champ, so I will stay put where I am, and we’ll have that conversation if it happens.”
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman will be cageside to watch his rivals Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington fight at UFC 272.
Usman is coming off an electric 2021 inside the Octagon, in which he successfully defended his welterweight title three times. He earned TKO wins over Gilbert Burns and Masvidal, along with another unanimous decision win in a rematch against Covington.
Usman has become the UFC’s pound-for-pound best after a remarkable rise to the title. Now, he’s no longer the hunter and is now hunted when it comes to the welterweight title picture.
Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington
Covington and Masvidal, former American Top Team teammates and friends turned enemies, will square off in the main event of UFC 272. During a recent interview with CBS Sports on the Super Bowl 56 Media Row, Usman gave his thoughts on the UFC 272 headliner.
“It’s a good fight. It’s an intriguing fight,” Usman said. “Other than the Francis Ngannou fight (UFC 270), I haven’t really been to an event to sit and watch in a while. It’s one that I will be there to watch. It’s a great one. I’ll just be sitting there like a proud dad watching my sons fight and do what they do. So I’m excited to watch that one.”
As for his next opponent, Usman is widely expected to face Leon Edwards next. The two of them battled earlier in their careers, with Usman earning a unanimous decision victory in 2015.
Both Masvidal and Covington are looking to get back in the title picture and earn a possible third fight down the line against Usman. But first, they’ll need to settle their beef inside the Octagon at UFC 272.
What is your prediction for Jorge Masvidal vs. Colby Covington?
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman underwent surgery on a hand ligament but is expected to recover in time for International Fight Week.
Usman’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, broke the news to ESPN on Monday. Despite the operation, Usman is still targeting a return to the Octagon for UFC 276 on July 2.
Kamaru Usman had surgery to repair a ligament in his hand, his manager Ali Abdelaziz told @marc_raimondi.
Abdelaziz said Usman is targeting a return for International Fight Week at UFC 276 in T-Mobile Arena on July 2. pic.twitter.com/MQqd9srmJf
Usman is widely expected to face top contender Leon Edwards next, but nothing has been formally announced by the promotion. He’s coming off of an eventful 2021 in which he earned knockout wins over Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal, while also winning the rubber match with Colby Covington.
UFC President Dana White also shared a graphic photo of Usman’s operated hand in an Instagram post.
“Pound for pound best fighter in the world [Kamaru Usman] had hand ligament surgery today,” White said. “This is the before and after. See you soon CHAMP.”
White has recently confirmed that Usman will face Edwards next, despite the exact booking still under negotiation. It appears that UFC 276 could be the targeted date for the high-stakes welterweight rematch.
Usman claimed that he injured his hand during a sparring session with ferocious lightweight contender Justin Gaethje.
Usman has won 19 fights in a row and is undefeated in his UFC career. He’s widely regarded as one of the greatest champions in the promotion’s history.
UFC light heavyweight Jamahal Hill has given his take on a potential transition to 205 pounds for reigning welterweight king Kamaru Usman.
Usman, who dethroned Tyron Woodley in 2019 and has since defended the title five times, secured his place atop the UFC’s male pound-for-pound mountain in 2021 after a period of dominance that saw him defeat Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal (twice), and Gilbert Burns. He further cemented his #1 position with a second victory over “Chaos” last November.
Usman’s consideration for two-division glory came while Polish powerhouse Jan Blachowicz was at the top of the food chain. Despite the 38-year-old’s size and emphatic shutdown of Adesanya’s own desire for double champ status last March, the welterweight titleholder fancied his chances.
But just like top contender Procházka, Hill doesn’t like Usman’s odds. The #12-ranked light heavyweight told MMA News that while “The Nigerian Nightmare” may be big for 170 pounds, he’d be “tiny” for 205. Nevertheless, he invited Usman to come and mix it up with the “big boys.”
“Seems like he’s picking and choosing where you wanna fight, picking and choosing which champion you wanna fight,” Hill said to James Lynch. “You’re skipping over a whole weight class just because he’s (Israel Adesanya) your boy and shit, which is cool, I get it. But I don’t know, what am I supposed to think about it?
“He’s small. Don’t get me wrong, welterweight he’s a big dude. But for 205? He’s fucking tiny. Anybody that feel like they wanna come play with the big boys can come on in.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYofLrkABgq/
With his lap back around his previously beaten foes set to continue this year with a defense against Leon Edwards, Usman has certainly cleared out a hefty portion of his challenges at welterweight. With that said, a push for a fresh challenge at a new weight class seems likely.
With his clear reluctance to share the Octagon with “The Last Stylebender,” a venture to light heavyweight could be a viable option for Usman in the near future.
How do you think Kamaru Usman would fare at light heavyweight?
While his position in the GOAT debate, both at welterweight and across all divisions, is up for debate, not many could build a solid case to dispute Usman’s status as P4P number one.
Since dominantly dethroning Tyron Woodley in 2019, the Nigerian-born star has gone on to defend the belt against Colby Covington, twice, Jorge Masvidal, twice, and Gilbert Burns.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZb1zYVLjab/
Having defeated the majority of top contenders before, and being set to continue his second lap around them in his next defense, expected to be versus Leon Edwards, Usman has considered pursuing success in other pastures and proving his P4P dominance.
“I was going to skip Israel (Adesanya) and go fight Jan at 205 (pounds),” Usman said. “Because I’m pound-for-pound, I want to prove it. No matter what weight it is, I thought he was a really good matchup for me.”
While he didn’t write off the welterweight titleholder’s chances, the Czech knockout artist was surprised to hear Usman’s confidence of how a matchup with Blachowicz would go and suggested his speed and power wouldn’t translate well to light heavyweight.
“Man, Kamaru Usman? Woah. He will be the big challenge,” said Procházka. “I don’t want to think about Kamaru Usman as an opponent right now, but I think he will be not so quick in our division, and the power, too, will be not on the same level like in our weight. He’s two weights under us, yes? Yeah, so that will be the challenge for him and a little problem.
“He will beat Jan, that’s what he said? Adesanya didn’t beat Jan, and he thinks he will do that?” Procházka added. “That’s a big and strong word, man. I’m not in his position; he defended in his weight many times and he proved he is a very big name in the fights, but this is very strong.”
Procházka May Become Champion Before An Usman Arrival
While he’s not interested in considering a potential clash with Usman down the line just yet, Jiří Procházka may be in a position to do so if he emerges triumphant in his next Octagon outing.
Since arriving in the UFC in 2020, Procházka has lived up to his reputation; knockouts, elbows, crazy striking, and more knockouts.
While a victory will likely lead to a grudge match with Aleksandar Rakić or a bout with former champ Blachowicz, Procházka may also have Usman’s name on his mind moving forward.
Should both men continue their winning ways in the promotion, and should Usman and Adesanya’s reluctance to fight remain, perhaps “The Nigerian Nightmare” will be forced to climb to light heavyweight in order to find two-division success.
If he does so, “Denisa” may be waiting…
How do you think Kamaru Usman would fare against Jiří Procházka at light heavyweight?
Kamaru Usman experienced a financial nightmare early in his career when he handed $60,000 to an “attractive” scammer.
As a novice investor, Usman trusted in his friend who brought his attention to the woman who would come to scam him out of his money. One minute he had the $60k in his hands, next it was gone to never be seen again.
“Everything I always heard, ‘Yeah, you gotta put money in the market. You gotta invest in this; invest, invest.’ I’m like, ‘Alright.’ I didn’t really know what I was doing. So, a friend introduced me to some lady who invests for you. So, she approaches me. We have a conversation. We talk. She was attractive. Of course, nothing happened on that front. But she was attractive. So, it was very easy to be distracted. Give her about almost $60,000; haven’t seen that money since.
“Yeah. I don’t think I did my due diligence as far as the homework and the research behind this person. Gave her about 60 bands, and [the money] just flew away,” Kamaru Usman told GQsports (h/t Mirror.)
Thankfully, the UFC Welterweight Champion has an exemplary fight IQ and was able to make the $60k back plus more throughout his career.
Since then, Usman has made millions and fortunately smarter investment decisions. He would go on to invest another $30,000 of his well-earned cash, which he reports has seen a positive return.
Kamaru Usman, Photo Credit: Getty Images
Kamaru Usman continues to dominate the welterweight division.
In 2019, Usman took out Tyron Woodley for the belt at UFC 235 and became the first African-born UFC champion.
And he continues to reign victorious. The UFC star made 2021 his year with three major wins. He defeated Gilbert Burns by 3rd round TKO, got a clean KO against BMF titleholder Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261, and finished the year with a unanimous win in the Colby Covington rematch.
As he remains undefeated in his UFC career, it is clear why “The Nigerian Nightmare” is the pound-for-pound king and why he wears the champion belt.
As with investing, Kamaru Usman learned from that setback and made smarter decisions from then on inside and outside of the Octagon.
Ciryl Gane’s coach Fernand Lopez has revealed what Kamaru Usman said to him after Francis Ngannou’s victory at UFC 270.
While it may have somewhat drifted into the background with the remarkable situation surrounding the heavyweight champion’s future in the UFC and ongoing contractual dispute with the promotion, Ngannou’s bitter and public feud with MMA Factory founder and head coach Lopez was an intriguing narrative heading into the opening pay-per-view main event of 2022.
With the culmination of the unification showdown and the crowning of an undisputed titleholder, most will hope we’ve seen the end of the public criticisms and insults between Ngannou and Lopez. One man who certainly feels that way is reigning UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.
Usman, a good friend of his fellow African UFC champ, was in Ngannou’s corner for the UFC 270 main event. While Lopez didn’t share any words with “The Predator” after Gane’s defeat, he did interact with “The Nigerian Nightmare.”
During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, Lopez revealed Usman pleaded with him to leave his differences with Ngannou in the past, something the 43-year-old says he is more than happy to do.
“When I shake Kamaru Usman’s hand, he stopped me and said to me, ‘Fernand, we are brothers. Let’s stop this. Let’s just move on.’ And I said, ‘You’re right. Let’s move on…’ I’m done. I’m exhausted with that topic,” said Lopez.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZGdI7otpdZ/
While we may not have seen the interaction and in-person make up between Lopez and Ngannou many wanted, the Frenchman’s post-fight words with the likes of Usman and opposition coach Eric Nicksick suggest both sides are willing to put their differences behind them.
That is, until we see Ngannou vs. Gane 2 down the line…
Should the beef between Fernand Lopez and Francis Ngannou be put to bed now that UFC 270 has passed?
UFC welterweight Khamzat Chimaev doesn’t want Kamaru Usman to go anywhere after his past idea of moving up to light heavyweight.
Chimaev is awaiting his next opponent in the Octagon after a quick finish over Li Jingliang at UFC 267. He’s undefeated in his MMA career and has emerged as one of the biggest stars in the welterweight division.
Usman recently alluded that he once considered a move up to 205 pounds to take on the then-champion, Jan Blachowicz, for the light heavyweight title. Blachowicz would go on to lose his belt to Glover Teixeira at UFC 267.
Chimaev is knocking on the door of the welterweight title picture after a string of dominant wins. His most recent victory over Jingliang propelled him into the welterweight rankings.
Usman’s comments about pursuing titles at multiple weight classes have irked Chimaev. In a recent tweet, Chimaev aimed at Usman for his previous comments.
“So your trying to change weight before I come for you?” Chimaev said. “Don’t go anywhere I am coming! I smash you and Burns in 2 mins believe me! I’m THE KING here.”
Usman is expected to face Leon Edwards later this year in his next welterweight title defense. He’s coming off an electric 2021 in which he earned finishes over Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns, along with another decision win over Colby Covington.
Chimaev’s starpower began to rise after an impressive 2020 in the Octagon. He earned three-straight finishes at both welterweight and middleweight, including two wins in 10 days.
Usman has remained somewhat mysterious regarding his future in the UFC. He has hinted at a potential retirement after a few more fights in the Octagon and has also pitched a crossover fight against boxing world champion Canelo Alvarez.
Chimaev and Burns have verbally agreed to fight in the spring, although nothing has been formally announced by the UFC. With a win over Burns, Chimaev could potentially land a future title shot and faceoff with Usman.
How do you think a Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev fight would play out?
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman pondered the idea of furthering his greatness by facing Jan Blachowicz at 205 pounds.
Usman has risen to the top spot in the UFC’s pound-for-pound list after a memorable 2021. He earned knockout finishes over Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal and won his rematch with Colby Covington at UFC 268.
Usman is widely expected to face Leon Edwards next in another defense of his welterweight title. However, he’s also flirted with the idea of attempting to become a champ at multiple weight classes.
During a recent interview with GQ, Usman revealed that he once eyed a matchup with Blachowicz when he was the light heavyweight champion.
“I was going to skip Israel [Adesanya and go fight Jan at 205 [pounds],” Usman said. “Because I’m pound-for-pound, I want to prove it. No matter what weight it is, I thought he was a really good matchup for me.”
Blachowicz shares a two-inch height advantage over Usman. Still, Usman has always been seen as big for a welterweight and has at times looked extraordinarily drained after weight cuts.
For now, the possibility of a Usman vs. Blachowicz fight is off the table. Blachowicz lost his belt to Glover Teixeira in stunning fashion at UFC 267 and will face Aleksandar Rakic later this year.
Usman and Blachowicz are still looking to hold their spots as two of the most intimidating fighters on the planet, but a fight between them looks to be buried in the past.
How do you think a Kamaru Usman vs. Jan Blachowicz fight would play out?
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has praised heavyweight king Francis Ngannou for his adaptability at UFC 270, branding him the “evolution” of the heavyweights.
At the opening pay-per-view of 2022 this past weekend, Ngannou returned to defend his title for the first time since winning it at UFC 260 last March. Ahead of his unification showdown with former teammate Gane, a lot was being made about his future, preparation, and mindset.
Would his ongoing contractual dispute with the UFC affect his performance? Would his desire for a crossover to boxing distract him from the threat of “Bon Gamin?” Would Gane’s technical style and fast movement nullify his power? Was a knockout his only path to victory?
After struggling on the feet for the opening two rounds, it appeared “The Predator” was on his way to a first defeat since 2018 and a potential departure from the promotion. But in the third frame, a momentous takedown changed the game.
After seeing the control he could employ on the ground, the UFC’s hardest-hitting knockout artist put his grappling improvements on full display, earning the nickname “Francis Ngannoumedov” from some fans with the performance.
One man who had a front-row seat for Ngannou’s impressive strategy towards the end of the UFC 270 main event, and who knows a bit or two about wrestling, was reigning welterweight king Usman.
Speaking to BT Sport in the aftermath of his fellow African champ’s victory, “The Nigerian Nightmare” described Ngannou as the evolution of the heavyweights and suggested even he doesn’t perform the sweep “The Predator” employed while on his back in the fifth and final frame.
“Francis, that’s the thing about him, he’s one of those special athletes that he takes everything as it comes,” said Usman. “He was gonna be able to deal with whatever was coming at him. He didn’t initially engage in the clinch or the wrestling the first round. That came from Gane, which I thought was an excellent game plan.
“But we’re just seeing the evolution of heavyweights. I mean, did you see that sweep in the fifth? I mean, damn. Even I don’t do that one. So you’re seeing the evolution of the game, and Francis is a scary man.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZEAYxtrwZf/
While an Ngannou prediction was hardly left field prior to UFC 270, the manner in which he defeated the previously unbeaten Gane was one in which not many, if anybody, had seen coming.
With a clearly developed ground game to go along with the immense KO power that has left the likes of Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Stipe Miocuc unconscious, the champion is a scary prospect for the rest of the division—if he remains in the promotion beyond 2022, that is.
What did you make of Francis Ngannou’s performance at UFC 270?
Dana White, Francis Ngannou Photo Credit: Heidi Craig / USATSI CBS Sports
With a list of outstanding achievements on his record and currently being on a 5-fight win streak, the 16-3-0 fighter has simply felt underappreciated.
The results of UFC 270 may have no impact on the fighter’s stance with his current contract, but it could be possible to see just one more fight if Ngannou gets his wish.
One thing that could help make this possible would be if that fight were to take place in Africa. Francis Ngannou has always shown pride in his African roots, and with the support of other African-born champions, he could possibly bring his dream to fruition.
In an exclusive interview with Stake, Ngannou touched on his dream bout in Africa and making it a reality in the UFC:
“It is a big dream to fight in Cameroon, but I also know it will be very hard to make a reality at this point. However, I believe eventually we will figure out a way to make it happen to fight for our people. It’s very important to each of us – myself, Israel and Usman. Ideally with the UFC, but even without the UFC that is going to happen one day.”
On January 22, Francis Ngannou has the opportunity to add “defending heavyweight champion” to his stellar résumé. The battle against his former sparring partner and Interim Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweight matches of all time.
Francis Ngannou’s path after the UFC is sure to deliver more headlining performances. And perhaps after UFC 270, regardless of the outcome, Ngannou fans will see his next bout in Africa.
Do you think the UFC will ever consider an event in Africa?
UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou believes welterweight king Kamaru Usman is the greatest fighter of all time.
In 2021, Usman extended his reign at 170 pounds and continued his dominance over the top contenders in the division. At the start of the year, he overcame early adversity at UFC 258 to TKO former teammate Gilbert Burns, who was riding a six-fight win streak into his first title shot.
After showing the improvements he’s made to his striking under the tutelage of Trevor Wittman against Burns, Usman put it on full display two months later when he ran it back with Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. In the second round, he secured his place in the Knockout of the Year debate with a brutal right hand.
Having ascended the pound-for-pound mountain, Usman further tightened his grip on the welterweight class by defeating Colby Covington for the second time at UFC 268. After being taken the distance in Madison Square Garden, “The Nigerian Nightmare” added another victory over the #1-ranked contender on the scorecards.
But while that opinion is hotly debated in the MMA community, one UFC titleholder believes Usman has earned that status and a whole lot more.
Speaking in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Usman’s fellow African UFC champion Francis Ngannou suggested “The Nigerian Nightmare” is “definitely” the best fighter of all time.
“If you go on his professional record, he’s the best pound-for-pound fighter. And in my opinion, he’s definitely the best fighter of all the time,” said Ngannou. “He’s undefeated (in the UFC), with at least like four or five title (defenses), which is something that (others have done that), but he’s doing it in a pretty way.”
While he perhaps hasn’t gone beyond the likes of Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, and Georges St-Pierre in the opinion of many fans and pundits, it’s hard to deny that Usman is certainly on his way to contending for GOAT status.
If the champ can defeat contenders like Leon Edwards, Vicente Luque, and Khamzat Chimaev in the coming months and years, Ngannou’s opinion may well become the consensus.
Do you think Kamaru Usman is in the GOAT conversation? If not, how many more title defenses does he need?
Leon Edwards’ wait for a world title shot appears to be coming to an end.
Edwards had expected to be fighting for a world title a long time ago. Now, he has reached a point where he is unbeaten in 10 fights and yet was still booked in another non-title bout, this time in a grudge match against nemesis Jorge Masvidal.
After Masvidal was forced to withdraw from that bout due to a rib injury, that left Edwards without an opponent. Edwards insisted that he would not fight again unless he receives a world title shot.
History has shown that sitting out and waiting for a title shot can be a very risky play, especially as far as Edwards is concerned. Dana White has cautioned fighters against making such a move, with Edwards himself being among them at one point.
In an interview with TSN this week, however, White relented and agreed that Edwards is deserving of a title shot and is next in line for UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman.
“100 percent,” White said when asked if Edwards was next in line for Usman. “That kid’s had a rough run. He deserves it. If you look at it, Colby lost to (Usman) twice, Gilbert lost, Leon’s next. He’s number three.”
White also hinted that one of the reasons for granting Edwards the title shot is because of his willingness to do what he said no one else wanted to do last year: step up and fight Khamzat Chimaev.
“We were in a matchmaking meeting on Tuesday and I’m always like, ‘Nobody wants to fight him, nobody wants to fight him,’” White said. “Leon Edwards signed the bout agreement to fight him and I think he was ranked number three at the time. So I wanted to make that clear, publicly. He absolutely wanted to fight him, signed the bout agreement and then Khamzat got COVID and that was the end of that.
“I’m bringing it up for a reason because I said that and never gave that kid the credit he deserved. He said yes to it, signed the bout agreement, and was ready to roll.”
Leon Edwards first faced Kamaru Usman long before Usman was champion, in a unanimous decision loss in December 2015. In his most recent fight, he defeated Nate Diaz at UFC 263 while Usman successfully defended his title in another rematch—against Colby Covington at UFC 268.
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman has brought with him a zero-tolerance policy for hate entering 2022.
Known for his cool-and-collected disposition, Usman took some time out to address one or two of his all-star haters in a Snapchat Story. On this occasion, rather than playing it cool, “The Nigerian Nightmare” delivered a message that was downright chilling (h/t The Mirror).
“Whomever you are watching my story, please just choke yourself. 2022 started and your life is centered around others,” he wrote in the story. “Better yet, kill yourself. Having fun watching my life and not yours,” Usman posted to his Snapchat Story along with a middle finger emoji.
While it is unknown what was said to draw out this response from Usman, the current pound-for-pound king seemed to recognize the looming controversy that could await when suggesting a fan take their own life. Consequently, Usman would then tone down his rhetoric a couple of notches while still getting a similarly stern message across.
“Let me clear this up, I know that was tough. It was 4am in the morning, it was a little slizzered and obviously, I typed that the wrong way,” he said in the video.
“Let me rephrase this for that hater, you know who you are, that particular hater there’s one of you or maybe two of you that keeps watching my story so you can have something to hate on.
“Choke yourself, it’s me saying it now, choke yourself. For the rest of my fans, my real fans I love and appreciate you guys, I always have and always will.”
It wasn’t all talk of hate and violence. The Nigerian-American also had a more appreciative message for his fans and supporters.
“I love my fans even those that (hate) because you truly only wish you could be me.”
Usman showed more patience during the build-up to his most recent fight against rival Colby Covington. Covington tried everything under the sun to get under Usman’s skin, including repeatedly referencing his father’s stint in prison. And yet, Usman let it all slide off his shoulders prior to defeating Covington for the second time at UFC 268, where the two enemies temporarily squashed their beef with a partial embrace.
What do you make of these remarks from Kamaru Usman?
UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman is doing his part to help the rise of MMA in his native Africa.
Kamaru Usman is arguably the most well-rounded fighter in the UFC at this time. He tops the UFC’s Pound-For-Pound list and has not lost a fight in eight years. Not only is he the total package inside the Octagon, but he is also a great advocate for the sport outside the Octagon. Since becoming UFC champion, Usman has been pushing for a surge of MMA in his native Africa. Now, he has inspired a new MMA promotion to be held in Lagos.
According to The Cable, 54, a new mixed martial arts promotion, will be holding it’s first event. Usman will be involved in this event and has even begun promoting it on his social media.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CYR8fPBK8fz/
This event is being billed as the first of a series of “Premiere MMA” events. This event will feature five fighters from Nigeria and five athletes from other parts of Africa.
“54 announces the first-ever face-off fight night in Africa’s most-populated city, Lagos as it brings mixed martial art fighters to slug it out in a bid to leave an impeccable MMA imprint in Nigeria and by extension, the African continent,” a press release stated.
Usman and his other fellow African champions, Francis Ngannou, and Israel Adesanya have been campaigning hard for the growth of the sport within Africa as a whole. They have all been pushing to start promotions like this one, help with training, and give other resources to the people of Africa. Usman and Ngannou have also been pushing for the UFC to hold an event there in the future.
The first “54” event will take place at 8 pm at the Lagos Continental Hotel on January 7, 2022. There is no information on how to watch the event at this time.
What do you think of Kamaru Usman helping start this promotion in Nigeria?
No matter the year, there is one thing you can be sure will never change: there will continue to be the never-ending debates about who is the greatest of all time (GOAT). This year, however, I say we finally add an extra dimension to these debates that is long overdue: adding the term “BOAT” to the official sports lexicon.
There is a difference between being the greatest and being the best. Being the greatest is based primarily on accomplishments and résumé. Think of this as having the strongest and most accomplished career.
Being the best is based primarily on skill level. Think of this as having the most talent and being the most dominant.
Naturally, there is some overlap between the two, which is where most of the confusion lies when there are GOAT debates with varying criteria.
Being considered the best is something that is backed by the eye test, and then the accomplishments and résumé help prove that the talent level is as high as your eyes thought.
Being the greatest is like the number of trophies you have in your closet and the number of heads you have mounted on your wall. It’s based more on what you did than how you did it. But there is still naturally some skill and domination that played a factor in that. The biggest difference is being the best can be judged in a shorter period of time while being the greatest is almost always reserved for those with a very wide body of work.
Jim Brown, Pro Football Hall of Famer
In football, you could argue that Emmitt Smith or Walter Payton is the GOAT at running back based on the records they set and their Super Bowl victories. However, the title of “BOAT” might be reserved for a Jim Brown or Barry Sanders, who ran with a form that set them apart from the pack, even if they lack the championships that a typical “GOAT” would have.
In basketball, one might argue that Kareem Abdul Jabbar is the greatest center who ever lived, with six NBA titles, six MVPs, and two Finals MVPs to support that claim. But in terms of the best? Give me the 1999-2001 Shaquille O’Neal every time. Because no one was more dominant.
In MMA, we’ve seen a couple of glaring examples of people having debates without realizing that they were arguing two completely different things.
Let’s take Jon Jones vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov, for instance. The following graphic best summarizes the difference between GOAT vs. BOAT (graphic via ESPN MMA).
Here, Brett Okamoto is arguing for Khabib as the BOAT while Marc Raimondi is arguing for Jon Jones as the GOAT. The clash comes when the opposing sides feel they are limited to one term of “GOAT.” What results are impossible debates about different topics unbeknownst to the participants. We’ll have more on the Khabib vs. Jones debate a bit later on.
BOAT Sightings
While we still have a ways to go before BOAT is officially added to the sports/MMA lexicon, there have been some “BOAT” sightings that have happened over the past year.
Alexander Volkov Cites Evolution
Below, Alexander Volkov essentially argues that Fedor Emelianenko is the heavyweight GOAT while Francis Ngannou is the heavyweight BOAT.
“Right now, it’s the UFC Champion Ngannou, most likely,” Volkov told RT Sport MMA in response to who is the greatest heavyweight of all time. “Depends on the particular era of MMA. Of course, in terms of achievements, Fedor is one of the greatest, a legendary fighter who was undefeated for many years, had spectacular fights, came back from different bad situations in his fights, beat them all in his time.
“But now, there’s a new generation with new skills, new physical conditions, new techniques. And it’s unclear if the fighters of the past generation would do well against the elite fighters of the present. So before we talk about the greatest heavyweight of all time, we need to define what it really means. For me, there’s no such thing. There’s just the best fighter at the moment. Now, it’s the UFC champion, in my opinion.”
Chael P. Sonnen Weighs In
Next, here’s Chael Sonnen giving his own breakdown of how the line between the best and the greatest often gets warped into a haze.
“Khabib is the most dominant. I can prove that,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “That’s not my opinion. I can prove to you that Khabib is the most dominant. I think that is a wonderful compliment to give a guy. You were the best fighter of all time. Hard to prove. Big compliment, hard to prove. Dominance is hard…Guys, Khabib has won more 10-8 rounds in his career than anybody in the history of unarmed combat. I’m including boxing. What an incredible statement. Then, OK, who’s the greatest of all time?
Khabib Nurmagomedov
“…Khabib does have one thing against him. It’s only one. It’s only one. But it’s still against him, and it’s gonna grow over time. Now that we’re still in the Khabib era, we’ve all seen him fight, we all miss him and want to see him fight again…over time, we’re gonna forget that. We’re gonna forget how we feel right now. We’re gonna see new talent in there. So we’re now left with paper.
“And this even happens now, I mean, Jordan vs. LeBron. You talk about Jordan had six rings and LeBron had none—at one point—but this was the argument. And you could see—many people said, ‘No, LeBron’s better. I don’t give a damn if he has the rings or not. He’s gonna get ’em and he’s better.”
El Cucuy Knows What’s Up
And what kind of guy is Tony Ferguson? Tony Ferguson is the kind of guy to hop on board the BOAT movement before it was cool. Be more like Tony Ferguson.
“B.O.A.T.🕶Status” Keepin’ It Sweet On Tiramisu🍮Tuesday # GetSum 🚣♂️💨🍃 -CSO- 🇺🇸🏆🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/FNZR1mqoDC
The two most frequent examples of GOAT vs. BOAT debates this past year were the Jon Jones/Khabib GOAT debate and the Georges St-Pierre/Kamaru Usman welterweight GOAT debate. For Jones’ part, he was offended that he was even being compared to the Dagestani in terms of their overall careers (graphic via ESPN MMA).
Here, Jones is solely arguing about greatness in terms of accomplishments. This quote and argument do not address actual talent and dominance over competition.
Now Jones did go on to say that Khabib had just started fighting elite competition, so his dominance is overstated. However, for one thing, “elite” is subjective. You could argue that Rafael dos Anjos was elite already at the time Khabib faced him in 2014. He just didn’t look like it because…you know, Khabib.
Second, if what Khabib did was easy, more people would be dominating “non-elite” competition the way Khabib did. Or maybe….just maybe…he’s just insanely good.
But the frustration Jones is experiencing in this quote below and that a Twitter user had in this tweet is a classic case of what happens when you are in debates about two different things: greatness in terms of accomplishments (GOAT) vs. being superior to everyone else purely in terms of talent (BOAT).
Georges St-Pierre vs. Kamaru Usman
First off, the date in which this viral graphic was created is unclear, as Usman’s unique opponents as champion is currently 3, not 1. Although this discrepancy calls the rest of these numbers into question, that’s not what I want to point out.
This is a classic example of the “lying with statistics” maneuver, and/or the cherry-picking fallacy. Because there’s no logical reason to have stats this in-depth but somehow neglect to mention UFC win/loss record, which at the very least is equally as important as anything else here.
And even aside from posts like these, the most common argument for GSP as the welterweight GOAT is that he had more title defenses. That’s where the majority of the pro-GSP GOAT arguments begins and ends. This argument completely ignores Usman’s longer, harder road to the title through no fault of his own.
Other things to be considered in Usman’s favor is his record for longest welterweight winning streak, having the highest winning percentage out of any fighter who has ever competed in the UFC, and the fact that he has never lost in the UFC while GSP lost twice, including to Matt Serra, and had an extremely hard time against Johnny Hendricks in a win closer than any of Usman’s wins.
Usman’s opponents were considered tougher at the time of the fights. Just compare Usman’s odds history vs. GSP’s odds history to see how experts/the public viewed their level of competition. For the most part, GSP’s level of competition was not as strong, which is something people knock Demetrious Johnson for.
In terms of GOAT vs. BOAT, GSP may very well still have the stronger argument for welterweight GOAT in terms of his overall career, but Usman would make for an easier argument on who is more likely to win any fight and is thus better.
At minimum, that is of equal value to being the GOAT. For instance, you can’t win money on someone’s overall career achievements. But you can win money when correctly judging who will be the better fighter on a given night. Usman has proven to be more reliable on that regard not only in terms of wins/losses but in terms of rounds.
To paraphrase Brett Okamoto in the earlier graphic, if my life is on the line and I’m picking who to bet on, I’m betting on the dude with the longest winning streak, the highest winning percentage in company history, and who in my opinion, the eye test shows is the more difficult fighter to beat overall. And none of those conclusions on Usman are being made with a small sample size. The man is setting records that can only be broken with amazing consistency.
Conclusion
In closing, there is a difference between being the best of all time (BOAT) and being the greatest of all time (GOAT). Let’s start firing up the scholarly articles, talk-show debates, or whatever is needed to get the term “BOAT” officially accepted into the sports lexicon! And come on, the boat emojis would be lit, too! ?️
Not recognizing the difference between GOAT and BOAT is a big reason why so many people grow frustrated when having these debates because they and their opponent are literally debating two different things without realizing it. Would differentiating these terms suddenly make these subjective debates more clear-cut and definitive? Of course not. But it sure would make the impossible a little bit easier and the goal post much clearer.
Michael Chandler thinks Charles Oliveira’s 2021 run of two title fight wins secured him Fighter of the Year status.
Chandler recently joined The Fighter vs. The Writershow to discuss his personal fighter of the year. He gave the award to UFC Lightweight Champion Oliveira, claiming his two high-profile wins in the division in 2021.
Chandler sees those victories as what puts him ahead of the pack for this year.
Oliveira became a UFC champion in May, stopping Chandler in the second round to claim a vacant belt. He returned seven months later to beat Dustin Poirier, stopping him in the second round with a rear-naked choke.
“Watching what Charles Oliveira has done this year, claiming gold and then defending it against one of the best to ever do it, one of the greatest lightweights of all time [who] will inevitably be a UFC Hall of Famer, Dustin Poirier. So hat’s off to him, he would be my pick for fighter of the year,” said Chandler.
Chandler: Oliveira Takes Award Over Welterweight Champ Usman
Getty Images
When asked about runners-up for this year’s fighter of the year award, Chandler compared Oliveira to dominant UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman. While Usman had a highly successful year with three wins, Chandler thought the “unexpected” factor of Oliveira’s success is what earned him the award in the end.
“Unfortunately, it’s almost as if we expected Kamaru [Usman] to be that dominant … When it comes to exceeding expectations and that feeling you get when you say ‘man what that guy did, that makes him fighter of the year,’ that for me is Charles Oliveira because I feel it was unexpected,” said Chandler. “Would we ever have thought Charles Oliveira would be the champion a year [or] a year-and-a-half ago?”
Who is your 2021 Fighter of the Year? Do you agree with what Michael Chandler said?
