Nigerian mixed martial artist and current UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has shut down any possibilities of facing fellow Nigerian compatriot and current UFC middleweight champion, Israel Adesanya in the Octagon.
Some fans have been suggesting that there are chances that the ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ will enter the middleweight division to fight Israel for the belt but in an interview with ESPN MMA’s Brett Okamoto, Usman reiterated that he is not willing to enter the cage with “The Last Styleblender”
“It’s refreshing to be around a guy and not be sizing him up, you know? Because like I feel it. I’m around guys like Charles Oliveira and I feel it. I feel that heat a little bit… It is an uncomfortable feeling to be able to be around. But it keeps you on your toes and, you know, it’s refreshing not to be doing that with (Adesanya), you know?” he said.
Usman, who is the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, will once again defend his UFC welterweight belt against Leon Edwards in the UFC 275 on August 20, 2022.
The two had faced each other some years ago but Kamaru Usman was the one that came out victorious.