‘I Don’t Know If I’m Looking Forward To It’

Linked with a future welterweight title protection agaisnt the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev forward of his UFC 278 headliner this weekend, division finest, Kamaru Usman stays coy on doubtlessly drawing the Chechen-born power, as he prepares to rematch Leon Edwards.

Usman, the present undisputed welterweight champion, is ready to take essential occasion honors on the Vivint Area this Saturday in Salt Lake Metropolis, drawing the surging, #2 ranked Edwards in a rematch of their prior choice affair again in December 2015.

Making an attempt to rack up his astonishing sixteenth straight UFC victory, Kamaru Usman additionally seems to be to land his sixth profitable protection of the welterweight title, after touchdown a pair of triumphs in opposition to each Colby Covington, and Jorge Masvidal – sandwiched between a knockout of former teammate, Gilbert Burns.

Insisting that he’s repeatedly “lapping” his opponents and contenders at welterweight, Usman has since discovered himself linked with what appears an inevitable title outing in opposition to the aforenoted, Chimaev sooner or later.

Kamaru Usman weighs up a possible future battle with Khamzat Chimaev post-UFC 278

Slated to headline UFC 279 in opposition to Nate Diaz subsequent month, Chimaev is predicted to earn a title shot with a victory over the exiting Stockton favourite, nevertheless, Usman has admitted that he’s not sure whether or not he’s receptive to the prospect of combating the AllStars berserker.

“I don’t know if I’m wanting ahead to it,” Kamaru Usman stated of a Khamzat Chimaev battle throughout a sitdown with ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto. “The Leon (Edward) one is huge to me, as a result of I battle these guys – after I say I battle these guys, I battle their hearts. And after the battle – and Leon, now, has kinda gotten on a roll and he says sure issues like, ‘No, it’s future, I’m gonna take the belt from the man that beat me a very long time in the past.’ It strikes a nerve inside me – I’m awake.”

“Each camp is hard, I practice simply as troublesome for each camp,” Kamaru Usman stated. “And so thst remains to be powerful. And mentally I’m there – there won’t be as a lot noise round it, however I’m nonetheless up. The Khamzat (Chimaev) – if that battle does come about, I believe I’ve to have the flexibility to not get wrapped up in what’s gonna occur. As a result of that’s the place, I’m emotional – however I don’t essentially wanna battle emotional. And what makes me who I’m, is with the ability to management my feelings. I’d be mendacity if I stated, I received’t be getting up, you understand, rather more for that one.” 

Having fun with a roughshod run by way of welterweight competitors throughout his Octagon tenure so far, past a D’Arce choke win over John Philips, Chimaev has stopped the trio of Rhys McKee, Gerald Meerschaert, and Li Jingliang, to go together with his April unanimous choice win over common-foe, Burns in Jacksonville, Florida.