Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman makes his highly anticipated return to the octagon on June 14, headlining UFC on ESPN 69 against Joaquim Buckley. This matchup marks Usman’s first fight since his short-notice battle against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023. After taking time off, Usman is eager to re-establish his dominance in the division. His next challenge will be Buckley, unless Usman faces champion Belal Muhammad first, setting the stage for potential tension and intrigue.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Usman shared his evolving perspective on Muhammad. “Belal’s a guy that I never really paid attention to because I was focused on my own path,” Usman explained. The former champion stated that he was always preoccupied with fighting the next contender, which led to neglecting the rising star Muhammad. However, Usman acknowledged that stepping out of his bubble forced him to take notice of Muhammad's skills.
“Now I see that he’s not bad; he’s just good everywhere,” Usman said, reaffirming respect for Muhammad's tactical abilities. Usman also noted, “I started to pay attention to his antics outside the cage, and that’s not my style.” He contrasted his own approach, emphasizing that he prefers to settle disputes inside the octagon rather than engaging in social media battles. “If I were the champion and the next challenger was calling me out, I would respond, and we’d settle it in the cage,” he declared.
Usman took specific aim at Muhammad’s approach to promotion, suggesting, “Belal just seems to be a different type of champion. He seeks attention, whether it’s through memes or Twitter.” This commentary points to a growing divide in how champions engage with fans and promote their careers, highlighting Usman’s traditionalist view against Muhammad's more modern, social-media-driven tactics.
The relationship between Usman and Muhammad has taken another turn. Usman invited Muhammad onto his podcast, “Pound 4 Pound,” and Muhammad accepted. The encounter reportedly escalated quickly, leading to physical confrontation in the studio, although the much-anticipated episode has not yet been released. “He craves that attention,” Usman asserted, illustrating Muhammad's willingness to engage rival fighters for publicity.
Reflecting on their podcast interaction, Usman described it as brief and contentious. “He was only there for about ten minutes before it ended,” Usman explained. He expressed hope that the podcast episode would eventually be aired, giving fans insight into their heated exchange. The friction between them raises questions about whether future encounters will require security intervention, as Usman speculated, “Probably,” if they cross paths again.
As UFC on ESPN 69 approaches, all eyes will be on Usman’s performance against Buckley. This fight will not only mark a comeback for Usman but will also serve as a building block for his aspirations to reclaim the welterweight title. With Belal Muhammad waiting in the wings, the stakes are high for Usman’s return to the octagon.
