Kamaru Usman News
EXCLUSIVE | Colby Covington explains how his altercation with Abdelaziz and Usman started
Cole Shelton - March 21, 2019
Colby Covington didn’t fight at UFC 235, yet he still managed to generate many of the event’s biggest headlines. The day after the event, for example, video was released of Covington, Ali Abdelaziz, and Kamaru Usman getting into an altercation in the Palms Casino and Resort (see it here).
VIDEO | Kamaru Usman explains 'Marty from Nebraska' nickname
Drake Riggs - March 19, 2019
“[My high school wrestling coach] is reading the roll sheet calling names and he goes, ‘Kfam..Kamar… Who the? Who is this kid? Who the f*ck is this kid?'” Kamaru Usman shared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. “And I’m like, ‘That’s me, coach…’ That’s your name?! I’m like yeah, he’s like, ‘I’m not saying that!’ Cause my full name is Kamarudeen. He’s like, ‘I’m not gonna say that! Like, Kamardien, Kamardy… I’m gonna call you Marty,’ And I’m just like, ‘Yeah sure, coach…’ “I’m 5-foot-3, 100-pounds, I’m scared of this guy and I’m like sure. I mean, you’re a kid, you don’t care. You’re gonna have nicknames growing up. Now the whole team’s calling me Marty. I love that coach, he essentially changed the course of my life.
Dana White confirms Colby Covington will get title shot before Jorge Masvidal
Tom Taylor - March 19, 2019
When Jorge Masvidal flattened Darren Till in the UFC London main event, he catapulted back into UFC welterweight title contention, and in the eyes of some fans, even usurped Colby Covington’s spot as the next man in line for Kamaru Usman. Speaking to Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday, UFC President Dana White cleared things up.
Kamaru Usman vows to beat Colby Covington with 'the wrath of every immigrant in this country'
Tom Taylor - March 19, 2019
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington do not like each other. At all. The good news is that it sounds like they’ll get the chance to settle their differences in the cage very soon, and when that time comes, Kamaru Usman is promising some serious comeuppance.
Darren Till comments on 'weird fight' between Tyron Woodley and Kamaru Usman
Tom Taylor - March 14, 2019
When Tyron Woodley fought Darren Till in September, he looked like an absolute juggernaut. When he fought Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 earlier this month, hit looked far less impressive, and ultimately surrendered his welterweight strap to Usman as a result. Darren Till, who fights Jorge Masvidal in the main event of UFC London this weekend, recently commented on Woodley’s varying performances in these two fights
Fresh out of knee surgery, Kamaru Usman promises beating for 'you know who'
Thomas Taylor - March 12, 2019
Kamaru Usman was the picture of dominance in his welterweight title-winning defeat of Tyron Woodley at UFC 235. That being said, he didn’t leave the Octagon unscathed. During the fight, he injured his knee, and on Tuesday, went under the knife to repair this injury. Moments after coming out of surgery, a still dazed Kamaru Usman took to his Instagram story, where he greeted his ever-expanding fan base and promised he’d be back in action soon.
Ben Askren vows to retire if he gets KO’d by Kamaru Usman
Chris Taylor - March 9, 2019
Ben Askren continues to wreak havoc both inside and outside of the octagon, with his latest target being newly-crowned UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman. “Funky” made his highly anticipated octagon debut earlier this month at UFC 235, where he scored a controversial submission victory over former division title holder Robbie Lawler.
Referee Marc Goddard gives in-depth response to Usman-Woodley backlash
Tom Taylor - March 7, 2019
Kamaru Usman’s unanimous decision defeat of long-time UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley was a performance to remember. Unfortunately, the fight will also be remembered for a few controversial calls from referee Marc Goddard — most notably a handful of controversial stand-ups, issued when Usman was in dominant positions, seemingly working hard. After a comment from MMA Fighting’s Luke Thomas on Twitter, referee Marc Goddard issued a lengthy explanation of his calls in this Usman vs. Woodley matchup.
Ben Askren won't fight for UFC welterweight strap without speaking to Tyron Woodley first
Tom Taylor - March 5, 2019
The first shot at new UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman is expected to go to his arch rival Colby Covington. That being said, after an ugly altercation with Covington, Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz is pushing for a fight with new UFC star Ben Askren instead. Ben Askren, of course, has his eyes on UFC gold. Yet he says he won’t accept a title fight with Kamaru Usman until he’s spoken with the former champion, his good friend and training partner Tyron Woodley.
Colby Covington shares detailed account of altercation with Kamaru Usman, Ali Abdelaziz
Tom Taylor - March 5, 2019
Shortly after UFC 235, former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington had a heated run-in with new welterweight king Kamaru Usman and his manager Ali Abdelaziz. This altercation, which went down in a crowd of innocent bystanders at the Palms casino in Las Vegas, ultimately got violent, as Abdelaziz actually threw a punch at Covington (see the video here). Speaking on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday, Colby Covington detailed his side of the story.
UFC Rankings Update: Kamaru Usman cracks pound for pound top 10
Christopher Taylor - March 4, 2019
The UFC rankings have seen some major changes following the conclusion of this past weekend’s UFC 235 pay-per-view event in Las Vegas. Newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman soared into the pound for pound ranks to #9 (via UFC.ca), this following his dominant decision victory over Tyron Woodley.
The biggest winners from UFC 235
Mike Straus - March 4, 2019
With two title fights and some high profile names to boot, UFC 235 was preceded by some lofty expectations. But thanks to efforts from fighters like Diego Sanchez, Johnny Walker, and Kamaru Usman, it absolutely delivered. Let’s take a look at the biggest winners from the event:
After altercation with Covington, Abdelaziz says Kamaru Usman will fight Ben Askren next
Tom Taylor - March 4, 2019
Shortly after Kamaru Usman defeated Tyron Woodley to capture the UFC welterweight belt at UFC 235, he and his manager Ali Abdelaziz got into a heated altercation with former interim welterweight champion Colby Covington (see the video here). While UFC President Dana White has been adamant that the first shot at the new UFC welterweight champ Usman will go to Covington, Abdelaziz is now calling for a fight between Usman and Ben Askren, who defeated Robbie Lawler on the UFC 235 main card.
VIDEO | Colby Covington gets into scuffle with Ali Abdelaziz, Kamaru Usman
Thomas Taylor - March 3, 2019
New UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman and former interim champion Colby Covington have an extremely heated rivalry. So heated in fact, that they nearly came to blows inside a casino in Las Vegas on Sunday. In fact, punches were actually thrown in this heated encounter — though not by either fighter. Instead, it was Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz who let loose a strike. Usman even seemed to be holding his manager back.
Kamaru Usman and Tyron Woodley share classy exchange after UFC 235 fight
Thomas Taylor - March 3, 2019
Kamaru Usman and Tyron Woodley’s UFC 235 welterweight title fight has now come and gone, with Usman unseating the long-time champion Woodley with a beautifully executed unanimous decision victory. While the two welterweight talents exchanged quite a bit of trash talk before their fight, particularly at the first UFC 235 pre-fight press conference, it’s clear that there’s now plenty of respect between them.
Tyron Woodley makes case for immediate rematch with Kamaru Usman
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2019
Tyron Woodley is no longer the UFC welterweight champion. The Roufusport representative’s reign came to a shocking end in the co-main event of UFC 235 on Saturday night, when he was walloped to a lopsided decision loss by streaking challenger Kamaru Usman. While this Tyron Woodley vs. Kamaru Usman fight was not particularly competitive, Woodley hopes that his previous accomplishments might earn him the opportunity. Many other former champions — Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Cody Garbrandt being recent examples — have been granted this kind of opportunity, and Woodley feels he deserves the same chance.
Dillon Danis trolls UFC 235 winners Ben Askren, Kamaru Usman
Tom Taylor - March 3, 2019
UFC 235, which went down on Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada, was a huge night for the welterweight division. First, we saw former ONE and Bellator champ Ben Askren make a successful — if controversial — UFC debut by submitting former UFC champ Robbie Lawler. Then, we saw Kamaru Usman shock the world by dominating long-time UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman to a lopsided unanimous decision triumph. While Ben Askren and Kamaru Usman impressed many onlookers with their UFC 235 performances, notoriously outspoken Bellator star Dillon Danis didn’t seem to like what he saw. In fact, he believes he’d defeat both fighters based on their performances in Vegas.
What's next for the stars of UFC 235?
Cole Shelton - March 3, 2019
UFC 235 went down last night in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card featured two title fights, as Jon Jones sought to defend his light heavyweight title against Anthony Smith and Tyron Woodley put his welterweight title on the line against Kamaru Usman. Additionally, Ben Askren finally made his long-awaited UFC debut, taking on former UFC champ Robbie Lawler. In the end, Jones beat Smith by unanimous decision, while Usman dominated Woodley to hear ‘And New.’ Askren also locked up a controversial submission over Lawler to get his first UFC win.