After a dominant victory over Joaquin Buckley in the UFC Atlanta main event, Kamaru Usman is focused solely on reclaiming the welterweight title and isn`t interested in other challenges, including his ongoing dispute with Belal Muhammad.
Usman used the performance, his first in almost two years, to remind doubters of his status as a top welterweight. He noted that he didn`t even need his full arsenal, relying primarily on wrestling to control Buckley for the majority of the fight.
Usman explained his approach was a response to those who underestimated his wrestling after his last loss. “Because of that fight [against Khamzat Chimaev], it’s almost like they forgot I could f*cking wrestle,” Usman stated, referring to his previous loss. “They got dismissive and a little borderline disrespectful, but I just had to pull out the skill and just let them know respect every aspect of my game. Every aspect.”
Returning to the win column was a significant hurdle after battling physical and personal issues. “It’s been a while not just with getting back in here but getting back in the win column. I battled a lot of things just to get here. Just repairing my body. Just physically, personally, a lot of things I guess the expression would be fight a lot of demons just to get back in here,” he shared, expressing gratitude for his team and family support.
Belal Muhammad, a fellow former champion with whom Usman has a history of rivalry, commented on the outcome immediately after the fight.
Muhammad tweeted, “Congrats, see you soon.”
At the post-fight press conference, Usman was asked if he would consider a fight against Muhammad.
Usman`s response was dismissive: “Who is it? Who’s that? Next.”
Muhammad retorted on social media, referencing a controversial podcast episode featuring both fighters that reportedly ended in a physical altercation, an episode that has never been released.
Muhammad`s reply was, “The guy who made you cry on your podcast.”
Despite the exchange, Usman remained focused on his primary goal: reclaiming the welterweight title he previously held for over three years.
The current welterweight champion, Jack Della Maddalena, is scheduled to face former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev later this year, though a specific date hasn`t been set.
Usman asserts that he is the most logical next opponent for the winner of that title bout and isn`t considering any other matchups.
“Let’s be honest, I’m the biggest in the division, this is about entertainment,” Usman argued. “The UFC is an entertainment company. You want make the biggest fights. It’s going to be the winner of [Jack Della Maddalena] and Islam [Makhachev].”
“If Islam pulls that one out, former pound-for-pound [best]-current pound-for-pound [best]—who doesn’t pay for that?” he added.
Usman praised Makhachev`s talent and potential impact on the division but cautioned against automatically assuming he will become champion.
“JDM is no slouch, let’s not look past JDM,” Usman stated about Della Maddalena. “I said that in his last fight, he went out there and he showed you guys, don’t look past him. He’s very, very talented.”
“Islam is extremely talented. I love Islam,” Usman continued. “I think him coming in makes that division a lot more interesting. If he’s able to get in there and wrestle that belt away from JDM, former pound-for-pound, current pound-for-pound, I mean I think everybody wants to watch that.”
While excited about the upcoming title fight, Usman declined to offer a prediction.
Instead, he plans to observe the fight`s outcome, expecting to be the next challenger for the belt.
“I’ll be watching that fight,” Usman concluded. “I’ll take the winner.”
