Nigerian fighter Kamaru Usman was slated to face No. 1 welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, but “The Nigerian Nightmare” withdrew from the fight.
The bout was originally supposed to feature Rakhmonov vs. welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, but the champ withdrew from the fight due to a bone infection. Following this development, Usman was called in on short notice to replace the champ. The Nigerian seemed ready for the fight and spoke about getting ready for it, but he withdrew at the last minute, saying the date was too soon for him and he would not be prepared enough for the battle.
Ian Machado Garry quickly stepped in and took his place, but Usman’s withdrawal from the bout did not sit well with his fans. The 37-year-old has received a lot of backlash from fans who say he is ducking the fight, but Usman says that is not the case.
“This is an intriguing fight,” Usman said. “This is a fight that I was potentially going to slide into. I’ve touched on this a million times, which is crazy to me because I’m seeing online people like, ‘Aw, you scared? You ducking? Are You ducking? You scared? You scared?’ What?
“I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ This is the same sentiment that I feel like people are doing to Jon Jones. It’s just like when people, where you’re fans or fans of a fighter, don’t get their desired wish that they want. ‘That’s the fight I want,’ then it’s like, ‘That guy must be scared because he didn’t take the fight.’ Like, guys, shut up. Shut up. We step in there each and every time. —I have 22 or 25 fights, and I don’t know how many fights, but you think everyone, ‘Oh, you scared.’ World champion and defending belts time and time again, ‘Oh, he’s scared.’ Shut up. Just because you didn’t get what you wanted. Guess what, it’s like your mom telling you, ‘No, you can’t have that toy today.’ So shut your mouth.”
Usman has been on a break since he was 20 when he went up a weight class to battle Khamzat Chimaev. The fighter gave it all he had but lost the fight via unanimous decision. This is the fighter’s longest break from the cage, and many are wondering if he will ever make his way back into the cage. However, Usman assures fans that turning 38 will not stop him from making his way back into the octagon.
“Honestly, putting on my professional hat, I can see a world where Ian Garry gets this one done. However, I don’t really care much for both guys, so I don’t really care,” Usman said. “I’m not picking. Whoever it is, at some point, I’m going to have to see, and I’m going to have to do what I do, but I don’t really care. But I can see a world where Ian gets it done. Shavkat is very good and very dangerous, but I can see a world where Ian gets it done.”
For now, the fighter is content to watch the upcoming UFC 310 tournament. He has no favourites for the co-main event but says the battle will be uninteresting and may need to live up to expectations.
“I’m not hating in any way, shape, form, or fashion. I love the fight on paper, but I don’t think it’s going to be as exciting as people think.” Usman said. “People are expecting blood and this and that. I don’t think it’s going to be that because Ian Garry is a smart fighter that’s willing to just dance around for 30 minutes. He’s going to dance around. He’s willing to do that in order to create the space that he wants in order to try to land his strikes.
“Shavkat, not necessarily. Shavkat’s going to play the game with you for a little bit, but Shavkat, at some point, is going to want to get going. So, if Ian doesn’t want to get going, we know it takes two to tango. If Ian doesn’t want to get going, that fight might not be the bloodbath that everybody’s expecting. Everybody’s craving and going ‘ooh aah,’ but on paper, I think it’s a fantastic fight, and somebody’s O has got to go.”
Although no arrangement has been made yet, the fighter is positive that when he returns, he will end his prior three-fight losing streak and share a cage with Rakhmonov or Garry.
