Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman after Adesanya's win of the interim middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum. Photo / Getty Images
Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman after Adesanya's win of the interim middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum. Photo / Getty Images
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has no interest in fighting Israel Adesanya. Competing against him, however, is a different story.
In collecting the welterweight and middleweight championships, Usman and Adesanya became the first and second African-born UFC champions, respectively, and have formed a bond through their shared heritage.
But thesimilarities don't stop there. Both fighters have dominated their respective weight classes in the UFC. Adesanya is perfect in 10 middleweight bouts in the UFC, while Usman has won all 14 of his bouts with the promotion.
And just as Adesanya moved up in weight to challenge for the light heavyweight belt earlier this year, many have suggested Usman has earned a shot at following a similar path – moving up to middleweight to challenge Adesanya.
Speaking to the Herald ahead of his title defence against Colby Covington at UFC 268 this weekend, Usman didn't rule out the possibility that he and Adesanya might one day meet inside the octagon.
"I have no interest in fighting Israel Adesanya, but there's a difference in fighting and competing," Usman explained.
"When it comes down to it and if the UFC says 'Hey, Kamaru, Israel, we're going to offer you guys $100 million', me and Israel would have to sit down, talk about that and say 'hey, do we want to compete for $100m?' I think we might do it for that.
"So, it's something that has to make sense with us, and me and Israel would have to have that conversation. But as far as fighting him, I have no interest in that."
Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman after Adesanya's win of the interim middleweight title against Kelvin Gastelum. Photo / Getty Images
As far as the distinction between fighting and competing goes, Usman's bout against Covington in the headline act at Madison Square Garden on Sunday will provide a clear example.
In their 2019 meeting, there was plenty of bad blood between the two and emotion crept into things on both sides. The two went toe-to-toe in a near 25-minute striking war, with Usman eventually getting the TKO win with just 50 seconds remaining in the bout. It holds the record as the latest finish in UFC welterweight history.
This time around, at least for Usman, it's strictly business.
"Colby Covington the first time, we had to fight," Usman recalls. "That one had to happen. That was a fight. This time I'm competing. Of course, it's a fight, but I'm competing."
Since their 2019 encounter, plenty has changed for Usman. Ahead of his defence against former teammate Gilbert Burns in February, Usman changed coaches and began working with the renowned striking coach Trevor Wittman.
The improvements in his striking game have been clear in two bouts under Wittman's guidance – both wins coming by stoppage. Usman will be one of three fighters trained by Wittman fighting on the card, with lightweight Justin Gaethje opening the main card and strawweight champion Rose Namajunas defending her belt in the co-main event.
Reflecting on his first bout against Covington, Usman said he had definitely improved under the tutelage of Wittman, and that was reflected in his recent ranking as the top men's pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.
"I've definitely improved, and that's one thing I want to do each and every day. I want to grow the sport, which is why I still love the sport. I had an incredible foundation with [coach] Henri Hooft teaching me how to kick and punch, and of course me coming in as a national champion wrestler. Now, Trevor has focused on those intricate details and honing those in order for me to be producing the results that I've been producing.
"I leave no stone unturned when I go in to prepare for these fights, so I expect the best Colby that there is [this time]. If he brings his A-game and he really works hard then he might just make this a more competitive fight. If he doesn't, then it might be a short night for him."
