Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman once wanted to take on light heavyweight mainstay Jan Blachowicz in the past. They even had a viral staredown back in 2022. Usman recently addressed that staredown on the latest episode of his podcast with Henry Cejudo.
Kamaru Usman has not fought since October 2023. As such, Usman and Cejudo discussed more intricate details about the face-offs with Blachowicz. Moreover, Usman believed he had the perfect style to combat Blachowicz inside the octagon.
You see my arms next to his? I was like, ‘Yo!’ Everybody was talking about he’s a light heavyweight and thing but bro! I was out there thick on him. See, this is the thing. I wouldn’t have called for 205, listen, if I didn’t think at that point that the style favored me and I could do it.
Kamaru Usman via Pound 4 Pound podcast
Kamaru Usman reportedly walks around at 190-200 lbs. He recently moved up a weight class to fight Khamzat Chimaev in the middleweight division. Meanwhile, Blachowicz walks around way above 200 lbs. He was formerly the light heavyweight champion before he lost the title to Glover Teixeira. Although from a lower weight class, Usman was sizing up with ‘John’ pretty well.
Kamaru Usman recalls his face off with Jan Blachowicz, and still believes the matchup favoured him 👀
“You see my arms next to his?… Everybody was talking about ‘he’s a lightheavyweight’ but I was out there thick on him…
I’m telling you… I wouldn’t have called for 205 [lbs]… pic.twitter.com/dHgH9XvPcd
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 23, 2024
Usman even had a plan on how he would take down Jan Blachowicz. Inspired by Glover Teixeira, Usman revealed that he would grapple with Blachowicz and take him down multiple times. Usman’s plan was to make the bigger guy work until fatigue took over and the fight totally changed.
What does Jan Blachowicz have to say about a showdown with Kamaru Usman?
Back when Usman and Blachowicz faced off, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ was the reigning welterweight champion. Kamaru Usman was undefeated in the UFC. Meanwhile, Blachowicz had lost his title the previous year at UFC 267.
Jan Blachowicz on fighting Kamaru Usman (Image via Imago)The light heavyweight fighter has not addressed Usman’s recent comments yet. However, he did talk about a potential showdown with him after their viral staredown. In an interview with the New York Post, Blachowicz talked about the face-offs.
He is the best fighter in the world right now, yes? that would be a pleasure for me to fight against someone like him. Why not? We can do it in the future. I will be ready. It will be an exciting fight.
Jan Blachowicz via New York Post
Both fighters are still top contenders in the UFC. Usman ranks #1 in the welterweight division, while Blachowicz ranks #4 in the light heavyweight division. However, it remains unlikely a fight between the two would ever happen. Usman has business in the 170-pound division, whereas Blachowicz remains focused on regaining the title he lost.
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