Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is keeping a keen and close eye on the UFC 304 main event between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad this Saturday, and not just because Edwards is his former foe.
Kamaru Usman‘s rivalry with Leon Edwards began back in 2015 when they met for the first time at the beginning of their respective careers. They met twice again when they fought for undisputed gold, with ‘Rocky’ coming out on top on both occasions.
Since their last fight at UFC 286, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ moved up to 185lbs to take on Khamzat Chimaev on short notice, marking his possible permanent move up to the weight class.
Kamaru Usman urges Leon Edwards not to get comfortable on the welterweight throne
Despite having competed at 185lbs last time out, and now being 37 years old, the former welterweight champion doesn’t seem as though he will be making middleweight a permanent fixture.
Ahead of ‘Rocky’s’ third title defense this coming Saturday against Belal Muhammad, Usman has urged the Brit not to get too comfortable on the welterweight throne, as he teases that he will return to the weight class to reclaim his gold.
“I think Leon is starting to settle into the seat, he shouldn’t be because I’m not going anywhere yet, I’m just taking a little sabbatical right now,” Usman began to tell on the Pound 4 Pound Podcast.
“He’s starting to make his groove as champion and I think he believes he’s the champion here, Leon is just working on staying there,” the former champion continued.
Although Usman went on to admit that he thinks Edwards will likely retain his title, he also stated that he thinks ‘Remember The Name’ Muhammad could end up pulling off the upset.
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Henry Cejudo compares Belal Muhammad to Khabib Nurmagomedov
Usman’s podcast co-host and former UFC two-weight world champion, Henry Cejudo, made a bizarre comparison during the episode, saying that Belal Muhammad has similarities to former lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, predicting Muhammad will win the title.
“He’s been able to improve so much in his fighting career, he’s a freestyle fighter taking a little bit of Khabib with the top control, same style, reminds me a lot and I know people call me crazy, but he stylistically he reminds me so much of Khabib,” Cejudo bizarrely claimed.
Muhammad is currently riding a 10-fight win streak, seven of the wins having come by decision. Although the Chicago-born fighter isn’t loved by the fanbase, he has undoubtedly earned his title shot. Despite that, Usman has sensibly slammed Cejudo’s comparison.
“Nothing is different from Belal Muhammad, nothing, nothing jumps off the page where you go ‘Oh wow that is so incredible’, nothing jumps off the page.
“Stop, no, that’s a bad comparison saying he’s Khabib-esque, no he’s not,” Usman argued.
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