Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is looking to return to competition and had a high-profile opponent, Khamzat Chimaev, as his intended target, but the fight has yet to bear fruit. Meeting with fans during a question-and-answer session ahead of UFC 290, Usman talked his way back into competition and expanded on why a fight against Chimaev had not taken place up until this point.
Kamaru Osman says that “logistical matters” are to blame for not fighting Khamzat Chimaev.
“I thought I would fight Khamzat too.” pic.twitter.com/VovncRlssm
– MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) July 8, 2023
“I’m fine, I’m just training. I’m falling back in love with my training routine. The last couple of years it’s been kind of a mess, but I’ve fallen in love with this routine again. Just like you, I thought I’d fight Khamzat.” [Chimaev] Also, we’ll see what happens.”
When asked why he hasn’t had the fight yet, Kamaru Usman said there are plenty of logistical reasons for not booking the fight, but he said those issues weren’t on his part.
“There’s a lot of logistical stuff, not necessarily on my part, why didn’t it happen. Like I said, I’m here, I look good, I feel good, I’m ready to fight.”
Just two months ago Chimaev teased a fight against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 later this year, but as things stand now, it appears those talks are not yet complete. Back in March this year, the head of the UFC Dana White said that the next fight for Chimaev will come in middleweightnot a welterweight, having lost weight in his last fight by 7.5 lbs.
After dominating the 170-pound welterweight division, there’s no telling if former champ, Kamaru Usman, will call for a move up to the 185-pound whether it’s to fight Chimaev or another top-ranked opponent. However, according to Osman himself, he’s back in the gym, training, ready to put up another fight and get himself back in the winning slot.
Mike Pendleton is a current contributor to MyMMANews while also hosting the “On The Mic” podcast and is a former co-producer of Sirius XM’s Fight Nation.
With a particular passion for interviewing and talking to the best people about the fighting game, you can read or listen to Mike’s work across his many outlets.
Follow me on Twitter: @MP2310