Kamaru Usman is out of Jorge Masvidal’s blood after his successful UFC 258 title defense.
After beating Gilbert Burns in a third-round TKO at the head of Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Usman made it clear that there is a fight that interests him above all else: a rematch with Masvidal.
Usman (18-1 MMA, 13-0 UFC) won a unanimous ruling over Masvidal (35-14 MMA, 12-7 UFC) last July in UFC 251, but the fight did not live up to the expectations of many, including the same champion, after meeting only six days in advance. Usman is not happy about this and wants a second chance with Masvidal not to leave any questions.
“He had an integrated excuse,” Usman told reporters, including MMA Junkie, after the fight at UFC 258. “That’s the only reason he took that fight. We tried to do this fight twice before; he went. say no. … He’s been saying no. The only reason he fought on ‘Fight Island’ is because there was an integrated excuse. He was training all the time, but he said, ‘Oh, just I had six days ’notice, so that’s why it was like that.” So guess what? I’ll give you a whole training camp and this time I’ll stop it. I promise you.
“That’s why I was disappointed in the last fight, because I know I can stop it. But, with all the circumstances that occurred, I went out and mastered it from start to finish. So this time, I’ll stop him if he wants to step up, but I guarantee you he doesn’t. He will be silent ”.
There have been ongoing discussions about Masvidal’s upcoming fight that will take place against former best friend turned heated rival Colby Covington. With Usman’s demand, however, there is a possibility that the promotion will shift gears.
UFC president Dana White was not committed, but made it clear she would at least listen to Usman’s request.
“There are a lot of options for him now,” White said. “If this is the fight he wants, and this is what Masvidal wants, and I’m sure people would like to see it too. … I do not know.”
Usman said he will eventually bring down any obstacle put in front of him, but it is obvious that Masvidal is the most attractive to him. If he gets his wish, he promised it would end worse for “Gamebred.”
“This time I’ll put it in a coffin,” Usman said. “He does not want this fight. He doesn’t want that fight. I guarantee you you don’t want this fight. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t want to. Have I already lied here? Did I lie to you about something? Nothing. I said what I wanted to do, and that’s what I’ll do. We’ll see if it materializes. “