It’s the year 2030… There’s flying cars and AI MMA scoring. Jon Jones fought Francis Ngannou and Tom Aspinall. GTA 6 is out, and EA Sports UFC 5 has realistic facecards. Conor McGregor has sobered up, and all’s well in the futuristic, dashing new world. There’s just one wrinkle: UFC 310 title fighter Belal Muhammad’s footage from Shadowlion’s “Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman & Henry Cejudo” podcast isn’t out yet. Fret not; host Kamaru Usman has a solution.
Muhammad recently revealed on his own podcast that an appearance on Usman and Henry Cejudo’s “Pound 4 Pound” show went awry. He “broke Usman down verbally” before Usman “tried to get physical.” Usman is holding out for the release of his interview with Muhammad. That is, as long as the UFC champion holds up his end of the bargain. The conditions are that he has to win against Shavkat Rakhmonov.
We hear you, fans, and we will definitely drop the interview if we get really, really low on content, I mean, why not? To be honest, it’s the biggest moment of his life, that’s why he talks about it every second. And if we do drop the interview, it will be the second-biggest moment…gives him clout…But if he’s able to get through Shavkat Rakhmonov, and we run super, super low on content, why not?
Kamaru Usman via the “Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman & Henry Cejudo” Podcast || UFC 308 PREVIEW
The UFC 310 pay-per-view (PPV) event caps off the 2024 pay-per-view schedule with a title shot for Rakhmonov. The undefeated Kazakh, Muhammad, and Usman have been engaging in a devil’s love triangle for the belt. Usman, 37, even called dibs on his first defense after UFC 304 and got into some social media banter. ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ says that there are plans for the release of the footage. But only if Muhammad still holds the belt after UFC 310.
Kamaru Usman still has eye out for the gold
MMA Fighting for SBN’s Damon Martin recently spoke to Muhammad. Often disregarded as a slow decision machine, the Team Valle Flow Striking champion is on the offensive now. Belal Muhammad even reveled in getting a rise out of Usman in his own podcast. That seems to be going around a lot these days, with the former 170-pound and top UFC pound-for-pound king catching strays.
However, Kamaru Usman wants all the heat and dough. While some are virally against it, Usman is a prize fighter for whoever comes out the winner at UFC 310 (pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+) on December 14th. As far as Muhammad is concerned, he still looks forward; he wants that fight as well.
It’s a tremendous fight and I guess rightfully so that’s the fight to make because Shavkat’s a new face, A guy that’s 18-0, 18 finishes, and has really done the work that you need him to do…As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve got my eye on them. Either one of them, I’ve got my eye on them. Because at some point, either one of them is going to have to come have a conversation with me…I’ll be doing the talking in a different way.
Kamaru Usman further said on the “Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman & Henry Cejudo” Podcast
Regardless of the podcast controversy, and notwithstanding the fact he likes riling it up in the build-up, he wants it too. Muhammad told MMA Fighting that Usman is a former champ, and he hopes he goes back into the equation soon. With a few wins or even a major one, Usman can reinsert himself in the apex of upper echelons. As such, his return could be one for the ages.
