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Former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman has claimed he by no means had the intentions nor curiosity in combating fellow African-born star, Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title throughout their respective title reigns, nevertheless, pressured he laments not difficult Sean Strickland following his September coronation.
Usman, the present primary ranked welterweight contender and former pound-for-pound chief below the promotion’s banner, has been sidelined since making a 185lbs debut again in October of final 12 months in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Struggling his third consecutive loss, nevertheless, Auchi native, Usman dropped an in depth, majority choice loss to unbeaten challenger, Khamzat Chimaev within the pair’s short-notice title-eliminator within the Center East.
And weighing up the choice of a possible keep on the middleweight restrict, Usman acquired a current name out from former undisputed title chaser, Paulo Costa, who claimed he may have the ability to finish the Nigerian.
Kamaru Usman talks failed middleweight title run
Reflecting on his dominant run as welterweight titleholder, Usman claimed he by no means had curiosity in difficult compatriot, Adesanya, nevertheless, would have jumped on the likelihood to combat former titleholder, Strickland for gold.
“It stings that I didn’t turn into double-champion,” Kamaru Usman advised Henry Cejudo throughout an look on Pound 4 Pound. “However, it doesn’t sting that I didn’t go up and combat Israel (Adesanya). I simply genuinely – and I stand by that – I simply genuinely had no want to be the rationale why – or the potential cause why Israel – one other Nigerian, was not a UFC champion.”
“I had no real interest in that,” Kamaru Usman defined. “I’m not simply saying I used to be gonna beat him up or no matter, however I simply had no curiosity being the rationale why the UFC didn’t have one other Nigerian champion. However, had it been Sean Strickland – 1,000% I used to be shifting up.”
Usman and Strickland first fought again in 2017, with the previous touchdown a one-sided unanimous choice win of their UFC 210 showdown.
Who do you need to see ex-champion, Kamaru Usman combat subsequent?
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