Despite a 17-fight winning streak that includes 13 triumphs in the
world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion, Kamaru
Usman was feeling a little bit overlooked after UFC
258.
After defeating former teammate Gilbert
Burns by third-round technical knockout in Saturday’s headliner
at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, “The Nigerian Nightmare” issued a
demand for respect that he feels he hasn’t received as of yet in
his career. In particular, Usman pointed to pound-for-pound
rankings, where he feels he has been slighted.
“That pound-for-pound list is not a popularity contest, you know? I
haven’t really lost rounds in here – I control what goes on inside
the cage,” he said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “Just
because I’m not the loudest guy in the room, I’m not the most
braggadocious, I don’t get in trouble outside [the cage], I’m not
in headlines all the time.
“Let’s be honest, they kind of disrespect me in a sense. That
pound-for-pound list is not a popularity contest. I need to move up
on that list.”
UFC 258 marked Usman’s fourth victory in a welterweight title
fight, and his 13 straight wins at 170 pounds surpassed Georges St.
Pierre for the longest streak in the history of the division.
St. Pierre retired in 2018 but has recently been linked to Khabib
Nurmagomedov, although a fight between the two doesn’t appear
likely to come to fruition.
Usman wouldn’t mind a chance to test himself against the
39-year-old Canadian, who is widely regarded as the welterweight
GOAT. For Usman, it’s more about testing himself than earning a
lucrative payday.
“Of course, I would like Georges. But I don’t want Georges because
of money or anything like that. Like I said, I’m a competitor. I
want Georges because Georges left on top. Georges can still do it.
I see him training. Georges, I’m watching you. I see you training.
Georges can still do it.
“So, if there’s potential for that big fight and Georges wants to
come back, then of course, Georges can cut the line, absolutely.
But I’m not necessarily worried about a big-money fight. Right now,
I’m just worried about the next guy, and that’s what I do. I knock
off the next guy and I knock off the next guy, then you guys look
back and say, ‘[Expletive]! He’s beaten everybody!’ That’s what I’m
focused on.”