Islam Makhachev tells Kamaru Usman to get in line for a UFC welterweight title shot.
After Usman snapped a three-fight losing skid with a dominant win over Joaquin Buckley in the UFC on ESPN 69 main event, he set his sights on a title shot. Usman will have to await the winner of the expected title fight between welterweight champion Jack Della Maddelena and Makhachev.
Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) thinks a fight between him and Makhachev (27-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) would be massive.
“If Islam pulls that one out, former pound-for-pound, current pound-for-pound – who doesn’t pay for that?” Usman said less than two weeks ago at the UFC on ESPN 69 post-fight news conference.
Makhachev doesn’t necessarily deem former champion Usman as unworthy, he just advises him against waiting around for his shot.
“I saw some interview, Kamaru said something,” Makhachev told MMA Junkie. “He’s going to be a tough fight, but sounds good. It’s a really big fight and – man, I don’t know. Let’s get the belt and we will see after the fight in the press conference and talk about this. But I don’t want to look behind Della Maddalena right now. … He don’t have to stay long and wait. He can fight again, beat someone, make some money, and be in the waiting list.”
Prior to Usman getting back to the win column, Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie that he wouldn’t stand in the way of a potential fight between his two clients.
“He’s the greatest welterweight of all time,” Abdelaziz said of Usman. “He’s Dana White’s favorite fighter. Dana loves Kamaru Usman, 100 percent. Like, they have a very unique relationship. Listen, Kamaru is one of the biggest names in the division. Guess what? If Kamaru wins, Islam wins, they want to fight, I’m going to stay home, and I’m going to be watching from home. You know, I can see this fight happening too.”
