Kamaru Usman: Security needed when paths cross with Belal Muhammad

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

​

Tension rising! Usman says security would be required if he sees Belal backstage.

@espnmma pic.twitter.com/HgJDDOraBo

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) May 6, 2025

Things are heating up between Kamaru Usman and Belal Muhammad.

The beef between the two first started with Usman (20-4) criticizing Muhammad (24-3) for refusing to fight his friend and teammate Islam Makhachev. Muhammad responded with a long rant, mocking Usman’s recent inactivity, labelling him a “podcaster.” Muhammad also accused “The Nigerian Nightmare” of shying away from tough competition during his welterweight title reign.

Usman now says that tension between them has risen to the point where security will be needed if they come across each other at an event where they both aren’t competing. While Usman claims to be a collected person outside the Octagon, he also believes fighters are always on alert when “in the thick of it,” which he hasn’t been for a while.

“Probably [security will be needed]… I’m very level headed, especially when I’m outside of the cage,” Usman told ESPN. “But for almost two years now, I haven’t been in the thick of it. There’s a transition when you’re not. People expect us to be these fighters and we’re always on go mode. When I’m outside of the cage, people are like, ‘Why are you so calm? You’re a scary fighter.’ But I’m not like that. So when you’re in the thick of it, you’re on alert all the time… And I haven’t been that for a while. But now that we’re back in the thick of it, yeah, you’d probably have to have security back there with us.”

Usman lost his title to Leon Edwards in 2022 and failed to reclaim it in their rematch. He then went up for a one-off middleweight outing against Khamzat Chimaev, where he dropped a decision in October 2023 and hasn’t competed since. The 37-year-old will return against Joaquin Buckley (21-6) in the UFC on ESPN 69 main event on June 14 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Meanwhile, Muhammad dethroned Edwards via unanimous decision last year. “Remember the Name” is set to defend his title for the first time against Jack Della Maddalena (17-2) at UFC 315 on May 10 at Bell Centre in Montreal.

READ HERE

https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Kamaru-Usman-Security-Needed-When-Paths-Cross-with-Belal-Muhammad-196861

Spoiler

@HHJ

@fujitsugroundnpound

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[tritestill]

Because Belal hurt his feelings

 

[Neck&Neck]

Marty from the blizock ain’t playing !

 

[prime_lobov]

They were sitting across from each other on a podcast when this beef supposedly began, so I’m thinking Kamaru isn’t going to do jack. He’s just talking.

 

[Seminole Gamer]

Should be focusing on Buckley not Belal.

 

[DrawK]

Belal mauls him at this point. I don't believe in those knees.

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

what's the security for? the only thing that is going to happen is either Usman holds Belal to the wall for 25 mins while stomping on his foot, or Belal takes Usman down 20 times while doing fuckall for damage.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Security will be needed to stop them from taking turns in hugging eachother against the wall.

Hopefully Buckley retires Marty for good

 

[Guy LeDouche]

Why so they both can go 25mins of wrestling and fence pushing before security has to break it up?

EDIT: holy shit these responses are beautiful

 

[agibmxmma]

Usman isn't built like that. He's an athlete, not some guy who grew up fighting on the street on sight.. but he got people to start talking about him again while being 0-3 in his last 3 fights. Belal in 3.

 

[Mohawk Banditó]

Kamaru Usman when he next crosses paths with Belal

 

[John makfresshi]

Healthy knee Usman is god tier, Buckley is a dangerous motherfucker and I respect the shit out of Marty for taking the fight. Marty Fakenewsman Snoozeman gets a lot of shit for having bad nicknames and a few weak title defenses but this is a tough ass fight so i respect Usman no matter what the result. Sadly the result will probably be him getting clubbed around for like 20 minutes before getting put away with volume

 

[NoSmilez]

This is when the two magic card players fight and it's a fight to the death now.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

lol..

When I’m outside of the cage, people are like, ‘Why are you so calm? You’re a scary fighter.’

I don’t believe a single person has ever said that to or about Usman.

 

[JPOMMA]

he got people to start talking about him again while being 0-3 in his last 3 fights.

This exactly. He is doing all that talking to remain relevant and maybe get a shot at something. It’s fight game theatrics.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Man he is trying to get that free title shot. It's a decent strategy never know he might get hurt

 

[SamuraiBro]

Not gonna be needed with those brittle knees.

 

[PaulieVegas27]

Jeez, I am getting so sick of this horse hockey from this sport. Another fake, invented rivalry that will end in a boring fight but handshakes and hugs afterwards.

$20 says Usman and Balal called each other and planned this silly statement in advance.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Buckley is going to TKO Usman

 

[Eric Silva 2.0]

​

Things are heating up between Kamaru Usman and Belal Muhammad.

The beef between the two first started with Usman (20-4) criticizing Muhammad (24-3) for refusing to fight his friend and teammate Islam Makhachev. Muhammad responded with a long rant, mocking Usman’s recent inactivity, labelling him a “podcaster.” Muhammad also accused “The Nigerian Nightmare” of shying away from tough competition during his welterweight title reign.

Usman now says that tension between them has risen to the point where security will be needed if they come across each other at an event where they both aren’t competing. While Usman claims to be a collected person outside the Octagon, he also believes fighters are always on alert when “in the thick of it,” which he hasn’t been for a while.

“Probably [security will be needed]… I’m very level headed, especially when I’m outside of the cage,” Usman told ESPN. “But for almost two years now, I haven’t been in the thick of it. There’s a transition when you’re not. People expect us to be these fighters and we’re always on go mode. When I’m outside of the cage, people are like, ‘Why are you so calm? You’re a scary fighter.’ But I’m not like that. So when you’re in the thick of it, you’re on alert all the time… And I haven’t been that for a while. But now that we’re back in the thick of it, yeah, you’d probably have to have security back there with us.”

Usman lost his title to Leon Edwards in 2022 and failed to reclaim it in their rematch. He then went up for a one-off middleweight outing against Khamzat Chimaev, where he dropped a decision in October 2023 and hasn’t competed since. The 37-year-old will return against Joaquin Buckley (21-6) in the UFC on ESPN 69 main event on June 14 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Meanwhile, Muhammad dethroned Edwards via unanimous decision last year. “Remember the Name” is set to defend his title for the first time against Jack Della Maddalena (17-2) at UFC 315 on May 10 at Bell Centre in Montreal.

READ HERE

https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Kamaru-Usman-Security-Needed-When-Paths-Cross-with-Belal-Muhammad-196861

Spoiler

@HHJ

@fujitsugroundnpound

@Neck&Neck
@Arqueto @BroRogan @Carl Drogo @lsa
@StonedLemur @Fight Professor @TerrorTimmy @Elvis. @ryun253 @don't ask @C0NCH3TO @MEAN357 @Cooliox @mudrubble @Bobby Boulders @Simple Southerner @svmr_db @Luthien @BoxerMaurits @Neck&Neck @SeattleFightFan @Ares Black @SalvadorAllende @Arm Barbarian @Blanqa Blanqua @Royce's Gi @Cooliox @Krixes @MXZT @wisdom blows @nonoob @Mohawk Banditó @JKS @SuperNerd @2004 account @Mammothman @Bushwhacker B @Siver! @TITS @Cowboy Kurt Angle @Jose Beehive @MEAN357 @NoBiasJustMMA @FlyingDeathKick @Doughie99 @13Seconds @CPH @Kenny Powerth @OldBoy91 @Kryptt @Paynebringer @HI SCOTT NEWMAN @Poirierfan @SenorFranko @MMALOPEZ @Hellowhosthat @Get To Da Choppa @BangBang @Substance Abuse @John makfresshi @Islam Imamate @Wong_Wongster_Irish @TCE @Jackonfire @helax @Iroh

This seems like a continuation of the trend of podcasters trying to fight real fighters. Usman is a podcaster at this point. He's 38 (next week) and hasn't won a fight in almost 4 years.