Kamaru Usman shouldn’t be impressed with the way in which Shavkat Rakhmonov has been attempting to hype up a possible struggle between the 2.
Rakhmonov has been climbing to the highest of the welterweight rankings over the previous few years, slowed down by accidents and an lack of ability to get opponents to signal on the dotted line. Now he’s on the lookout for a struggle that may launch him into the No. 1 contender spot at 170, and he clearly thinks Usman would try this.
Kamaru’s drawback? Shavkat posted a meme displaying “The Nigerian Nightmare” and different high contenders hiding below a rock. Coaching footage of the 2 additionally acquired out which appeared to point out “Nomad” getting the most effective of Usman.
In a brand new episode of Pound 4 Pound, the previous welterweight champion addressed the state of affairs.
“At first, I’m not even within the sport proper now, Okay? So I’m not even frightened,” Usman stated. “That’s the least of my — I’m not even frightened about any of that.”
“I stepped in there on 9 days’ discover and fought presumably essentially the most harmful man within the UFC at the moment, Khamzat Chimaev,” he added. “So what are you saying? There’s nothing to say … You don’t grow to be champion and defend time and again and time and again since you’re scared to struggle any individual. Like, shut up.”
“He tweeted an image of me, Leon, and Colby [Covington] below a rock or one thing. I’m gonna save that picture. That is a kind of issues, as a result of he does come down right here in South Florida to coach at a health club that I’ve been coaching at, earlier than he was even hanging. Don’t pull me down as a result of now the competitor in me is gonna come out and I’m gonna begin speaking s—.”
Usman claimed the footage with Shavkat within the health club was him instructing the Kazakh fighter a transfer, not getting dominated.
“I’ve been on this health club coaching and serving to my guys get to the highest whereas I acquired to the highest,” he stated. “It’s what it’s … I perceive he’s younger and he’s a hungry contender and whatnot. However there’s a factor known as respect, and also you present respect so as so that you can get the respect. When it’s time for me to return out and dance, I step in that octagon and I dance throughout motherf—ers.”
Given Usman’s preliminary assertion, it could be some time earlier than it’s time for him to bop in any respect. However when he does, he have loads of choices, and Shavkat is certainly one among them.
