Kamaru Usman says preventing UFC champion Sean Strickland could be a ‘nightmare’

ABU DHABI – Kamaru Usman is successfully one win away from difficult UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland.

Former UFC welterweight champion Usman is shifting as much as middleweight to face undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 on Saturday on the Etihad Enviornment. UFC CEO Dana White dubbed the bout a title eliminator.

For Usman (20-3 MMA, 15-2 UFC), a possible combat towards Strickland could be a rematch of his 2017 unanimous resolution win over Strickland. Six years later, Usman nonetheless thinks he is a foul opponent for this staff. He is a champion now.

“That is combined martial arts. Model is what makes the combat,” Usman informed reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 294 media day. “Sean, I believe he is positively grown loads, however I believe a very powerful factor is he is grown in his id as a fighter. He is accepted the truth that he fights a sure fashion, a sure means. He dedicated to it, grew by leaps and bounds, and is now a champion.

“However fashion creates fights. I stated it after I went into the combat. I am a nightmare opponent for some individuals, however this matchup is a nightmare for Sean Strickland as properly. I believe. However he is grown by leaps and bounds. He is improved.”

When requested if he ever thought he could be ready to face Strickland once more, Usman stated he by no means thought of it. However trying again now, he realizes how powerful the competitors was on his strategy to the UFC welterweight title.

“I do not see it that means,” Usman stated. “Wanting again, at that time I used to be speeding down the hill, not caring who was going to get in my means. Leon was there, I did not care. I took care of enterprise. Thanks. Sean was there so I took care of enterprise. So I do not dwell an excessive amount of on it. Now that it is carried out, I am sitting down and reflecting on it little by little. Like I simply stated, lots of people did not know that I fought Sean Strickland, so you’ll be able to see that I have been attempting for a short time now. It is a type of issues the place you are ready the place you’ll be able to say, ‘I attempted. I beat fairly a couple of individuals.’

For extra data on the cardboard, try MMA Junkie’s UFC 294 occasion hub.