If Ali Abdelaziz gets his way, Kamaru
Usman will challenge for UFC middleweight gold at some point in
the near future.
The reigning welterweight champion is expected to defend his belt
against Leon
Edwards next, but if that goes as planned, Usman’s manager
envisions a scenario where “The Nigerian Nightmare” moves up a
weight class in a bid to become the UFC’s next champ-champ.
“The next victim is Leon Edwards, “Abdelaziz told TMZ Sports.
“Great fighter but he will get finished under three rounds. Fact.
It’s gonna happen. The welterweight division in the UFC right now
is very interesting. Kamaru is gonna beat him. I want him to beat
Leon Edwards and then I want him to go fight Israel
Adesanya for the middleweight title.”
After a recent interview with GQ where Usman admitted he
considered jumping up two divisions last year to avoid a fight
against fellow Nigerian Adesanya, such a scenario might seem
unlikely. However, Abdelaziz believes loyalty to country only goes
so far when prizefighting is involved.
“Listen, these guys, they’re cool but I don’t think they’re best
friends,” Abdelaziz said. “If there is enough money for both of
them to fight, they will fight in the parking lot. I know how
people work. This has nothing to do with loyalty, because these
guys, it’s not like they’re training partners or brothers. They’re
African brothers and that holds a lot of value … but at the end
of the day, I’m Kamaru Usman’s team all the way. I want to see
Kamaru Usman, before the end of the road, have two titles. I’m
selfish, I’m greedy, and I think Kamaru deserves it….
“I know [UFC president Dana White] wants it, I want it, it makes
sense. It makes a lot of sense .. I think there is enough money for
these two guys that they would fight. I want to see this fight now.
I think fans want it, I want it. I think these two men need to call
each other.”
While Usman does not yet have an official date for his next
welterweight title defense, Adesanya is scheduled to meet Robert
Whittaker in a middleweight championship rematch at UFC 271 on
Feb. 12.