UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman spoke recently with John Morgan for MMA Junkie, ahead of his title defense vs. Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC 258 on February 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada. “The Nigerian Nightmare” knows exactly who is in front of him, but with a successful title defense, isn’t sure who the next contender is.
None of them have really broke out where it’s like, ‘This guy is next for me,’ said Usman, as transcribed by Danny Segura. So they’re kind of in that thick and in that picture where they’re basically trying to make themselves the next guy up.
Right now, my focus on is Gilbert Burns. He’s stated that this is a fight that he wants. He believes that he’s that guy, so all my focus is on him. At this point, I see nothing past getting the job done against him. But after that, there’s really no one that stands out. I know [Colby] Covington and [Jorge] Masvidal are kind of pit together where someone goes out there and does something spectacular, the guy … could be the next guy.
Or [Leon] Edwards and [Khamzat] Chimaev – someone does something spectacular there, they could be the next guy. Of course [I’m] paying attention, but no one really stands out as the next guy.
That’s the thing I had a problem with for years and years, trying to make my way up and all these guys saying, ‘No, I don’t want to fight him because he’s a very high risk and low reward.’ But now, I’m a position that I don’t need to call guys out. You guys have to come to me because I have what you guys think you want.
UG, who do you think gets the next shot at the title?
