Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is sick and tired of the shots upcoming welterweight fighters have been taking at him.
“The Nigerian Nightmare” has been on a break for over a year and hasn’t competed since 2023. During his time away, rising welterweight contenders accosted him, with Ian Machado Garry accusing the fighter of fear. Usman has continuously ignored these remarks, but the fighter has had enough of this disrespect and has come out to slam every UFC welterweight fighter.
On an episode of Pound 4 Pound podcast, Kamaru Usman spoke about fighters who have accused him of being afraid to step back into the cage.
“This is the thing, while we’re coming into 2025, I just want to make this clear so everyone realises and understands if we don’t fight, we don’t make money. I like money!” Usman said on his Pound-4-Pound podcast. “… We live a particular lifestyle. I have a family. I like money! So, if I don’t fight, I don’t make money. Everyone keeps going, ‘Oh, you’re not picking fights.’ I want to fight, I do. But if I’m not healthy I can’t do that to the best of my ability, to give you guys ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ that you guys are used to seeing. That you guys want to see in that octagon.”
“So for those of you thinking that I’m not fighting because I’m choosing not to fight. Like all these stupid fighters that are running their mouths saying, ‘Oh, he don’t want to fight me!’ Shut your mouth! No one is scared of any of you!” Usman said. “I’ve been at the top of the division. Pound for pound, with an iron fist, spanking all of y’all for a while. So listen, when I am healthy, I will get in there. I want to fight, and I can’t wait to fight to whoop one of y’all. So shut your mouth, all of you stupid welterweights. Shut your mouth and wait for when I am healthy again. I’ll fight all of you. I don’t care. Just be patient, OK? Thank you. 2025 will be a great year for everybody.”
Usman’s layoff was primarily due to injury, though the former champion did briefly flirt with the idea of stepping in on short notice at UFC 310 against Shavkat Rakhmonov. Ultimately, Usman could not do so, but he believes he will be ready to compete again this year. The fighter competed recently at UFC 294 in a short-notice bout against Khamzat Chimave, but he lost this bout.
