Your home for local combat sports!

Kamaru Usman demands more respect after UFC 258, says he’d love Georges St-Pierre test

LAS VEGAS – Kamaru Usman cemented his spot at the top of the UFC welterweight division and says it’s high time he got the credit he deserved.

Usman (18-1 MMA, 13-0 UFC) finished Gilbert Burns (19-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) with strikes in the third round of their main event title fight at UFC 258 at the UFC Apex and, during his post-fight press conference, “The Nigerian Nightmare” told reporters, including MMA Junkie, that he deserves more respect than he’s been getting so far in his career.

When asked who isn’t giving him respect, Usman stated, “Everyone. Critics, the media, all of them. Not that I really give a (expletive), but I give a (expletive). I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my (expletive). So put some respect on my name.”

Usman’s win against Burns extended his winning streak to 17 consecutive fights, with 13 of those coming under the bright lights of the UFC octagon. It’s a run that has seen him surpass the legendary Georges St-Pierre for the longest welterweight winning streak in UFC history, and Usman said that sort of stat should put him much higher in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.

“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. “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.”

Usman may not be the biggest talker in the game, but when he speaks, he speaks his mind, and he admitted that he’d love to test his skills against the man considered the greatest welterweight of all time, Georges St-Pierre. But, rather than fight him for a huge payday, he wants to face GSP to see just how his own skills will compare with those of the Canadian legend.

“I take it one fight at a time. I’m not really worried about that,” he said. “I don’t come in (saying), ‘Ah, I want a big fight! I want this, I want that!’ 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.”

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/02/ufc-258-kamaru-usman-demands-more-respect-says-he-would-love-georges-st-pierre-test

MMA’s week out of the cage: Dustin Poirier gets key to city of Youngsville

Social media has become a significant part of the sporting landscape. But few, if any, professional sports match the level of interaction and personal access provided by MMA.

In an individual competition in which nearly every athlete is chasing the same goal of financial success and championship glory, it’s important for fighters to provide insight into their lives in order to connect with fans and gain followings.

Although the life of a fighter often can be mundane and repetitive, there still are moments of interest that take place outside the cage, ring or training room. Here are some of the most interesting of those occurrences from the past week.

Birthdays: Dan Hooker

Birthdays: T.J. Dillashaw

Birthdays: Petr Yan

Birthdays: Stephen Thompson

Birthdays: Megan Anderson

Birthdays: Tony Ferguson

Weekly eats: Joe Rogan

Weekly eats: Tom Lawlor

Weekly eats: Shinya Aoki

Weekly eats: Conor McGregor

Dustin Poirier receives key to Youngsville, La.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/ufc-news-dustin-poirier-key-to-city-youngsville-louisiana-mma

Twitter reacts: MMA community celebrates Valentine’s Day on social media

By Blue Corner
February 14, 2021 9:15 pm

Follow @MMAjunkie

Article source: https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/lists/twitter-reacts-ufc-mma-celebrates-valentines-day-2021-social-media

Kamaru Usman ready to run it back and finish Jorge Masvidal

After taking a shot at Jorge Masvidal in his UFC 258 post-fight interview with Joe Rogan after his victory over Gilbert Burns in his third title defense, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman elaborated on his jab at the BMF champion.

“He had a built-in excuse. That’s the only reason he took that fight,” Usmand said. “We tried to make that fight twice before, he said no.”

“The Nigerian Nightmare” was of course speaking in reference to his successful title defense over Masvidal at UFC 251 in July of 2020.

Masvidal took that fight on six days notice once Usman’s UFC 258 opponent (and his original UFC 251 title challenger), Gilbert Burns, pulled out due to contracting COVID-19.

“The only reason he took that fight on Fight Island was because it was a built in excuse,” Usman said. “He was training the whole time, but he said ‘Oh, I only had six days notice, so that’s why that went that way.’”

Usman then officially took aim, seemingly angling for a rematch against “Gamebred.”

“I’ll give you a whole training camp and this time I’ll stop him,” Usman said. “I promise you. That’s why I was disappointed in myself that last fight, because I know I could stop him.”

When asked if Masvidal was the fight he wants, Usman did not discriminate against the rest of the top welterweight contenders.

“They can all get it, I don’t care,” Usman said. “They need to show me some activity. Show me something, step up and we’ll take care of business.”

Yet, from the time Usman sent those verbal jabs, Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN’s Brett Okamoto that he’s already in contact with the UFC about Masvidal and Usman as potential TUF coaches.

Kamaru Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz just told me he’s already talking to UFC about Usman and Masvidal as TUF coaches. “It’s what Kamaru wants and Jorge deserves a full camp. But he and his team better be on their best behavior. We already beat them up inside and out of cage.”

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 14, 2021

Masvidal’s manager Malki Kawa hopped on board with the idea of a rematch and a TUF season as well.

Let’s do It. TUF. Masvidal vs usman. We accept.

— malki kawa (@malkikawa) February 14, 2021

UFC president Dana White was also asked about a potential rematch between Usman and Masvidal.

“There’s a lot of options for him right now,” White said. “If that’s the fight he wants, and the fight Masvidal wants, then I’m sure the people would like to see it too.”

Kamaru Usman’s full UFC 258 press conference

(Subscribe to MMAWeekly.com on YouTube)

Article source: https://www.mmaweekly.com/kamaru-usman-ready-to-run-it-back-and-finish-jorge-masvidal

UFC 258: Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns Recap

Watch the recap and highlights from the UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns main event between Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns from Saturday’s event at The Apex in Las Vegas.