Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has ruled out fighting Belal Muhammad, insisting he has his sights set on regaining the title rather than settling scores with the current No.1-ranked contender.
Usman and Muhammad were allegedly involved in a physical altercation while Muhammad was a guest on Usman’s “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo in September 2024. The episode never aired.
Since losing his title to Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315, Muhammad has been angling to settle the score with Usman.
However, after the Nigerian Nightmare returned to the win column by defeating Joaquin Buckley in June, he is onto bigger things.
“We didn’t have a lot of back-and-forth, it was just a lot coming from him,” Usman said at Friday’s Q&A in Abu Dhabi ahead of Saturday’s UFC 321 event.
“I just think he’s a dork, and what you do with a dork is just ignore them. This is the thing, for someone like myself and Belal Muhammad, right now, Belal Muhammad is ranked No.1 in the division, and I’m below him. I’m looking at the title. I’ve been where he hasn’t been.
“Yes, of course, he’s been the champion, but what happened when it was time for you to defend? I have nothing to gain from fighting Belal Muhammad. He has all to gain.
That’s why he’s calling me out. He has all to gain from me. I’m not here to waste time.
“I want to get the title, and I want to continue on my track of defending and be that champion again. Why waste time with him? If I have the title, and he’s the next guy, I would luckily kick his head in.”
Muhammad (24-4 MMA, 15-4 UFC) will take on Ian Machado Garry (16-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 265 co-main event on November 22 from ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar.
Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) is aiming to compete on the upcoming UFC White House event in June and possibly for a chance to regain the welterweight championship if everything lines up just right for him,” Usman said.