Rumors began circulating last week that former welterweight champion Leon Edwards will face Australian Jack Della Maddalena in the main event of UFC London in March.
Considering that Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena represent two of the top 5 welterweights in the world, at No. 1 and No. 4 respectively, this matchup would leave No. 3 Usman in a tough spot.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
An 'excited' Kamaru Usman fires back at UFC welterweights for comeback
It's been fifteen months since we last saw Kamaru Usman in the UFC octagon, with fans around the world desperate to see the former pound-for-pound king back in action.
If the rumored UFC London main event between Edwards and Della Maddalena is true, there aren't many active welterweights who could be in the mix for The Nigerian Nightmare's comeback.
Speaking via the Pound-4-Pound Podcast, Usman was close to a boiling point when he criticized fighters like Ian Machado Garry and Joaquin Buckley for their consistent, and for what he believes are consistently disrespectful statements.
“Here's the thing, as we approach 2025, I just want to make this clear so everyone understands; if we don't fight, we don't make money. I love money, you love money… If I don't fight, I don't make money.
“Everyone says, 'Oh, you're not going to fight,' well, I want to fight, but if I'm not healthy, I can't do that to the best of my ability. [I can’t] give you 'The Nigerian Nightmare' that you are used to seeing, that you want to see in that octagon.
“So, for those of you who keep thinking that I don't fight because I choose not to fight, like all these stupid guys, stupid fighters – shut up, no one is afraid of you!”
Usman may be on a three-fight losing streak, but it's worth remembering that he still gave Khamzat Chimaev his toughest test yet in the octagon, far tougher than former champion Robert Whittaker – despite being on short term at middleweight.
“I've been at the top of the division for a while, pound for pound, with an iron fist, beating you all up. Listen, I want to get in there, I want to fight, and I can't wait to fight so I can scream at one of you… So shut up, you stupid welterweights, shut up, and wait until when I am healthy again.”
If we ignore Edwards, JDM and Shavkat Rakhmonov for a moment; a comeback fight against Garry, Buckley or even Sean Brady would make sense, as wins over any of these three names would put Usman firmly back in the title picture.
“I will fight all of you, I don't care, just be patient, okay? Thanks… 2025 is going to be a great year for everyone, okay? All love and peace – relax guys.”
Cejudo and Usman respond to Islam Makhachev's teasing podcast
In addition to talking about Usman's plans for 2025 and Henry Cejudo's upcoming fight against Song Yadong, the podcast hosts also touched on one of the week's most viral moments.
In an interview with Demetrious Johnson, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev teased that they needed “permission” from him to call their podcast 'Pound-4-Pound'.
“Islam, why do I like that?!” laughed Usman in response: “Ey, listen, it is what it is – Islam is of course pound-for-pound king at the moment, he makes certain decisions about that.”
'Triple C' giggled as he stabbed back: “He's greedy, he wants all the pounds for himself, as he should,” before noting that it was nice to see Makhachev's personality come out more.
“Obviously he has a tough matchup with Arman, but the most important thing is that Islam has come out of his shell… We all know Khabib is very charismatic, and it feels like we're getting more of that now from Islam Makhachev. ”
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