Kamaru Usman teases ‘new motivation’ to reclaim his UFC title as he fires back at ‘bum’ welterweight champion

The former UFC welterweight champion is on a war path to reclaim his old title as he fires back at comments made by the newly crowned king of the 170lb division.

Prior to UFC 304 in Manchester, there was a certain expectation that the winner of Edwards vs Muhammad would go on to face one of the division’s two undefeated prospects, either Ian Machado Garry or more likely, Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Well, just as Belal Muhammad achieves his dream of becoming UFC world champion, there’s a potential ‘Nightmare’ matchup looming ominously on the horizon.

Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty ImagesKamaru Usman teases ‘new added motivation’ with Muhammad as championFollowing Belal Muhammad’s underdog victory at UFC 304, it appears that the new champion is dead-set on starting as many online feuds with fellow UFC welterweights as he can, including former champion and pound-for-pound king, Kamaru Usman.

Whilst defeating Usman in his first title defense would undoubtedly launch Muhammad to the next level of fame and notoriety, having already proved countless doubters wrong in Manchester, the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ has sent a stark warning to the new champion.

“Well, jump right back into action,” Usman stated on the first episode of his aptly named ‘Road Back to Gold’ VLOG series, explaining how as soon as he gets his physical weapons in working order, he’ll be ready to fight for a UFC title once again.

“Like I said, the biggest thing for me is [about] getting healthy, so if I can get this healthy and get this body right, I told you, I’m the best in the world.

I just got to get my body right… So, post-champion, post-new champion, first workout, first day [back] in the gym and obviously when something like that happens, it gives you a new added motivation – I was never not motivated, it’s just getting the health in order.”

Usman would also fire back at some of Muhammad’s recent comments, writing on X: “Alright enough of the nice guy… you were never chasing me Bum. You were barely in rankings when I dominated the division. FYI I have a win over Leon son.”

EXCLUSIVE: Israel Adesanya reveals the craziest story from his kickboxing careerLuckily, that fight might be far closer to being put together than many expect.

Belal Muhammad teases Usman title fight could come as soon as DecemberBoth prior to his UFC title win and in its immediate aftermath, Belal Muhammad teased that he wants to remain as active as possible as a champion and that he’s planning to earn one more win before the year’s out.

“Man, hopefully I get something for the end of the year, maybe that December card,” he told TMZ Sports earlier this week, adding “That would be the perfect moment for me, the perfect turnaround time.”

Whilst Muhammad’s mind is set on December, his potential next opponent is less clear, with the two names on his mind being Rakhmonov, and the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ himself.

“When I look at the division, the highest ranked guy is Shavkat and he’s the boogeyman of the division so that would make sense, but there’s also Usman right there as well.

“I know he’s on a losing streak but legacy-wise, he was the guy that Dana White said was better than all the other champions, Dana White said he’s better than GSP.”

Muhammad praised the fact that Usman “looked good in the Khamzat fight and he took that fight on a couple of days’ notice,” before reiterating that the former champion could very well be next in line, considering Rakhmonov’s recent opponents.

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“There’s not a clear number one contender when you look at it… Shavkat’s undefeated but it’s like he beat Wonderboy; I beat Wonderboy and had to win four more fights after that so there’s nobody out there that I’m looking at like ‘He’s for sure certain for it’.

“Either one of those two guys [Shavkat or Usman].”

A reminder that the December PPV has not yet been officially announced by the promotion but is expected to take place in Las Vegas on December 10; that being UFC 310.

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