Kamaru Usman Recieves Surprising Props from Belal Muhammad for Shutting Down ‘Bad Knees’ Trolls

UFC welterweight veteran Belal Muhammad praises Kamaru Usman for his dominating performance at UFC Atlanta.

Kamaru Usman Recieves Surprising Props from Belal Muhammad for Shutting Down ‘Bad Knees’ Trolls

Belal Muhammad credits Kamaru Usman for his latest win (via Imago/X)

UFC Atlanta took place last weekend, where UFC veteran Kamaru Usman took on Joaquin Buckley in a much-anticipated welterweight bout. After five intense rounds of striking and grappling, the former champion was declared the winner via unanimous decision by the judges. Going into the fight as a massive underdog, Usman shocked everyone with his clinical performance inside the octagon.

Following the win, Usman was immediately called out by the former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad during a post-fight interview appearance. However, Usman immediately shut that down with a sneaky remark that left the media room laughing and stunned at once. As a reply, Muhammad kept aside the rivalry to praise the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ for his remarkable comeback.

Usman’s still got juice left in the tank. A big fight for him. Three losses in a row, people had all the questions…’Does he still have it? Does he still have knees?’ I think he went out there and he proved that he does still have it. He still belongs at the top of the division with the best guys in the world. He looked good. He came out very smart.

Belal Muhammad via his YT Channel

Usman has long struggled with severe knee injuries, which have significantly impacted his training camps and overall fight preparation. Joe Rogan once discussed Usman’s knees on his podcast, revealing shocking details about the damage and limitations they’ve caused him. Despite this chronic issue, the ex-champ continues performing at the highest level, showcasing heart and elite skill inside the octagon.

Following the win, he made sure to give a befitting reply to his doubters who raised questions about his knee injury. In the fight, the ex-P4P king didn’t shy away from wrestling and took Buckley down in the early rounds with controlled pressure. In the YouTube video, Muhammad sneaky mentioned that Usman took his suggestion which helped him dominate Buckley with ease.

According to Muhammad, Buckley was overconfident due to his previous six-fight win streak and wasn’t explosive enough during exchanges. Now ‘New Mansa’ has to go back to the drawing board and rethink his future plans after the tough loss. On the other hand, Usman has opened up various opportunities for himself with this statement-making win over a dangerous contender.

Belal Muhammad is ready to fight Kamaru Usman

Belal Muhammad and Kamaru Usman’s rivalry reignited last year due to their unreleased podcast episode. Muhammad once accused Usman of ducking him repeatedly, questioning his willingness to face rising contenders before his title success. Usman, in response, downplayed Muhammad’s accomplishments and stated he’s still levels ahead despite recent setbacks and inactivity in the cage.

Belal Muhammad is ready to trade hands with Kamaru Usman
Belal Muhammad is ready to trade hands with Kamaru Usman (Imago/X)

Following that, they had a physical altercation, which forced the camera crew to step in, as explained by Henry Cejudo later. Nevertheless, now that Muhammad has lost his title in his last outing, he’s looking forward to bouncing back stronger and smarter. In the video, he gave his reasons to fight Usman next, calling it unfinished business that fans still want resolved.

I wanted him to get on the mic and call me out. I think that’s the next one that makes sense. That’s the only fight that makes sense. If you’re talking about the division, we have history. We’ve been going back and forth. It’s a clear No. 1 contender fight. He’s calling for the belt, 185, 170, but I’m No. 1. I’m still the guy at the top. So let’s do it. I think you could pick the date, pick the time, the place, and I’ll be ready for it.

Belal Muhammad via his YT Channel

Usman is currently eyeing a title shot and has already talked about fighting the winner of Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev. If that doesn’t happen, it won’t be surprising to see him go against ‘Remember The Name’ due to the mutual grudge.

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