By UFC Welterweight Champion and contender for best fighter in any weight class Kamaru Usman has expressed his willingness to participate in a four-man tournament with the winner of his title defense against Leon Edwards facing the winner of a proposed third bout between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz. Usman cited both his love of being paid large sums of money and distaste for losing mixed martial arts bouts as key factors in convincing him to agree to such a tournament if the UFC is interested.
“[Usman’s manager] Ali [Abdelaziz] mentioned this the other day and it seemed like a great idea,” Usman said of the proposed tournament. “If amything, it isn’t quite ambitious enough. I figure we can fill out the card with some top flyweights, maybe make the UFC’s debut in the amateur space. Can easily fill out eight or 16 bouts and lock down my next four or five title defenses for lucrative pre-arranged rates.”
Although offered in response to a question about fighting McGregor, a featherweight-turned-lightweight with a combat sports record of 1-4 in the last five years, Usman did admit he’d also be happy to trounce Diaz for a massive tournament payout in the event Diaz defeats the Irishman in the other semifinal. With his answer to the question, Usman adds his name to the shortlist of willing opponents alongside every other fighter who has ever been asked about fighting McGregor.
