Belal
Muhammad and Kamaru
Usman’s common manager, Ali Abdelaziz, must be in a tough
spot.
Muhammad is scheduled to fight surging welterweight contender
Gabriel
Bonfim at
UFC Fight Night 278 on June 6 at the Apex in Las Vegas.
Muhammad claims Bonfim and Usman were two potential opponents
initially mentioned to him by his manager. However, Muhammad was
almost certain he would have to fight Bonfim, as he knew Usman
wouldn’t accept.
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Muhammad even plans to tell Abdelaziz in person that he is
protecting Usman. However, Muhammad also understands Abdelaziz’s
predicament. Muhammad notes that Usman is one of the most
high-profile fighters that Abdelaziz has managed over the years.
However, Muhammad believes “The Nigerian Nightmare” is at the tail
end of his career, where he has to wait for a perfect matchup.
Usman was initially rallying for a welterweight title shot against
Islam
Makhachev, who is also managed by Abdelaziz. However, Muhammad
believes Usman won’t get a title shot at welterweight anytime soon,
which is why the 38-year-old is teasing a move to middleweight.
According to Muhammad, former middleweight champ Dricus Du
Plessis would be an easy matchup for Usman.
One Chance Left
“I called my manager and he’s like, ‘They’re looking at Kamaru or
Bonfim,’” Muhammad told MMAjunkie.com. “So that’s when I was like, ‘Oh,
so it’s Bonfim.’… I’ll straight up and tell him that Kamaru is a
chicken and [Ali] is trying to protect him. For Ali, he’s in bad
spot. Because Kamaru is his golden goose and he knows that he will
get smacked around by me. So you got to protect him. Kamaru has one
chance left. He’s at that point now where he has to wait for that
perfect fight. He’s putting out little feelers out there. Maybe
he’ll get a title shot, I don’t think he’ll get at 170. But he’s
trying to plant the seeds at 185. DDP would be an easy fight, DDP
can’t defend a takedown. And he can’t get up.”