Kamaru Usman: Islam Makhachev Matchup 'Scares Me'
Kamaru Usman is confident he's the only welterweight contender who can truly challenge UFC champion Islam Makhachev. Makhachev's dominant performance over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in New York has solidified his position as the welterweight titleholder. Post-fight, Makhachev expressed his belief that Usman can beat top contenders Carlos Prates and Michael Morales, who both achieved significant knockout wins on the same night.
Usman, despite knowing he's in for a challenging match, agrees with Makhachev's assessment. He acknowledges the fear and excitement that come with facing a well-rounded opponent like Makhachev.
"I say it's the most competitive because when I look at a guy like Islam, I don't really see holes, and that's something that scares me, that causes my heartbeat to rise, and that's when you see some of the most spectacular performances," Usman said on his 'Pound 4 Pound' podcast with Henry Cejudo. The last time Usman felt this way was during his first fight with Colby Covington, where he faced a highly skilled opponent who excelled in wrestling, grappling, and striking.
Usman emphasizes the need for Prates and Morales to face more rigorous tests before challenging Makhachev, who is a well-rounded champion. He believes that if Prates were the champion, a similar outcome to Della Maddalena's loss could occur. Usman wants to see Prates and Morales prove their mettle against more formidable opponents before they can challenge Makhachev.
"You almost feel like if there are guys like myself and Islam in the division, you almost feel like if Prates was the champion, what happened to JDM is bound to happen, someone could do that to them," Usman said. "With Prates, you want to see those answers, and the same with Morales. You've only seen him on his feet. He's a big, strong guy, no one's really got a hold of him, dragged him down, pulled on him, pushed on him, let him get and breathe. No one's really done that to him. So, I would like to see one or two more from them."
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