Kamaru Usman says said he’s willing to jump up two weight classes to fight for a second UFC title to prove his pound-for-pound No.1 status.
The UFC welterweight champion is considered the best fighter in the world, and fans have wanted to see him jump up in weight to challenge for a second belt.
But given his close friendship with Israel Adesanya, who holds the belt at middleweight, he said he was planning on instead skipping the 185lb division and going straight to light heavyweight.
The weight limit for the UFC’s second heaviest division is 205lb, a whopping 35lb more than Usman’s last few weigh-ins for his world title fights in the promotion.
But he wanted to prove that he could win a belt at another weight, while still maintaining his relationship with fellow Nigerian Adesanya, so he set out to challenge Jan Blachowicz for his title.
“I was going to skip Israel and go fight Jan at 205,” Usman told GQ.
“Because I’m pound-for-pound, I want to prove it. No matter what weight it is, I thought he was a really good matchup for me.”
But Blachowicz lost his belt in the meantime to veteran Glover Texeira, who when asked about, Usman responded: “I think I would beat him.”
It now remains to be seen who Usman will fight next, with Adesanya currently set to face Robert Whittaker in a world title rematch next month at UFC 271.
