Kamaru Usman Thinks He Hasn’t Got a Big Name Opponent Because ‘They Have No Chance’

Kamaru Usman is a problem. If you didn’t already know that, he screamed it to the world after he destroyed Sergio Morales in the first round at fight Night 116. He’s on a 10-fight win streak, six of them were UFC fights. He was breifly in talks to fight Rafael dos Anjos in what would be his biggest fight so far, but eventually was passed up for Robbie Lawler. He shrugged it off and said Mike Perry would also be a good fight, but Perry (who’s ranked four spots under Usman) got matched up with ninth-ranked Santiago Ponzinibbio. So, where is Usman’s shot at someone that will get him closer to a title shot? In his words, they’re avoiding him because they know they’ll lose.  

“I think from the fan perspective, I think I’m slept on. As far as me not getting my hands on a ranked opponent [it’s because] they’re smart enough to know that they have no chance. I dominate these guys from start to finish. And not just that, I can talk, I can sell, and I can fight. How can you not promote the guy?”

I respect guys like Usman, Perry, and Condit that obviously want, and should want, to be the champ. Their approach is the old fashion way! https://t.co/U9uVzUKhTh

— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) October 13, 2017

“It kinda baffles me that they’re dragging their feet. But, all I can do right now is do my part, and I feel like I’m doing that right now. Yeah, they can do more to promote me. How can you not promote a guy who has a country, a continent, behind him? And not just that, someone who can go out and do what I did in my last fight. And even the fight before that?” – Kamaru Usman speaking to Body Lock MMA.

It’s ducking season out here ‍♂️#NigerianNightmare #TUF21Champ #Naijaboy #nobodywantstoplaywithme #imaproblem pic.twitter.com/7JCjGLYKa4

— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) October 5, 2017

It does beg the question just who Kamaru Usman is going to fight next? From Usman’s 11th-ranked spot up, everyone is booked: Colby Covington is fighting Demian Maia, Neil Magny meets Carlos Condit, Cowboy Cerrone was pit against unranked Darren Till, and so on including the aforementioned match-ups Usman was passed up for. If he wants to get booked before the end of this year, his only choices are ranked lower. Either way, with all the fights in the welterweight division that are on the schedule, a ton of potential fights open up against any of the losers or winners.

Afrimma Awards 2017 last night was #NigerianNightmare #TUF21Champ #Afrimma2017 pic.twitter.com/Yp6r1v6z8O

— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) October 9, 2017

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 10/18/2017.