Kamaru Usman has criticized those criticizing his decision not to fight at UFC 310.
Dana White's final pay-per-view show of the year was originally going to be headlined by a welterweight title clash between Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov.
However, Mohammed withdrew from the fight after suffering a bone infection that left one of his toes severely swollen ahead of what was supposed to be his first title defense.
Rakhmonov immediately expressed his desire to remain on the December 7 card and the powers that be began looking for a new opponent to face at UFC 310.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Kamaru Usman tells his haters to 'shut up'
Kamaru Usman initially offered to step in against Rakhmonov on short notice, having previously done the same for a fight with Khamzat Chimaev last year.
The former 170-pound champion later withdrew from the fight when he publicly admitted that the card in Las Vegas had come “too early” for him to be ready for the fight.
Since it looks like Usman is getting some criticism from UFC fans.
To this extent, 'The Nigerian Nightmare' felt compelled to address them during the latest episode of the Pound 4 Pound podcast he shares with former two-weight UFC champion, Henry Cejudo.
Usman said: “I see people online saying, 'Oh, are you scared? You avoided him. Are you afraid?'
“What?! This is the same feeling I think people do with Jon Jones. If fans of a fighter don't get the wish they want, 'That's the fight I want,' then it's like, 'Oh, that guy must be scared because he didn't take the fight.' Guys, shut up!
“Oh, he's scared.” Yes, okay. World champion, I have defended tires again and again. “Oh, he's scared.” Quiet! Just because you didn't get what you wanted.
“Guess what? It's like your mother telling you, 'No, you can't have that today. You can't have that toy, shut up.”
“Instead we have a hell of a fight. Shavkat Rakhmonov takes on Ian Garry.'
What's next for Kamaru Usman?
Kamaru Usman hasn't fought since suffering a majority decision loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023.
The defeat extended his losing streak to three in a row after consecutive losses to Leon Edwards.
At 37 years old, Usman appears to be nearing the end of his legendary career in MMA. Yet he is ranked second in the welterweight division and may be just one win away from a shot at the title he has held for three years.
Edwards is the only welterweight prospect ahead of him, but a fourth fight between the pair seems unlikely.
Other options include Sean Brady, Jack Della Maddalena or the loser of Rakhmanov vs. Garry.
It's all up in the air, with only one thing certain at the moment. Usman isn't done yet and the fans who are criticizing him now will see him fight in the Octagon sometime in 2025.
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