Despite major links to a stunning light heavyweight move to take on former champion, Jan Blachowicz two years ago, former welterweight kingpin, Kamaru Usman, has rejected the opportunity to settle their differences in an eventual fight, claiming the bout does “nothing” for him.
Usman, a former undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, has been sidelined since he made a short-notice middleweight divisional leap at UFC 294 back in October, suffering a close decision defeat against the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev.
As for Blachowicz, the Pole has been out of action through injury since his July title eliminator with current light heavyweight titleholder, Alex Pereira, dropping a close split decision loss to the Brazilian knockout artist.
And voicing his opinion on how a bout with Blahcowicz would have gone back in 2022 following their infamous face-off, Usman pointed to his size then, and claimed that stylistically, he would have matched up well with the former KSW kingpin.
“I wouldn’t have called for 205 (pounds) if I didn’t think at that point that the style favored me and I could do it,” Usman explained. “Everybody’s got power when the fight starts, but you grab their leg and you drag him down, the fight completely changes. And that’s exactly what I was gonna do. Glover Teixeira did the exact same thing to him.”
Taking issue with Usman’s claims, Blachowicz – who himself wants to take on Pereira in an immediate title re-run in his return, offered to welcome the Nigerian to 205lbs once more.
“If you still feel the same about it @USMAN84kg, let’s do,” Jan Blachowicz posted on his official X account.
“I will be ready.”
However, according to Usman, a fight with Blachowicz does very little to nothing for him right now, declining the opportunity to reignite their feud beyond words.
“When he (Jan Blachowicz) was champion, I liked the matchup, because we were fighting for something,” Usman said on his podcast. “Listen, I respect every UFC fighter that steps in that Octagon. And even with Jan Blachowicz, I respect him – the original ‘Polish Power’.
“…I’m no longer the champion, he is no longer the champion so that fight makes absolutely no sense,” Usman explained. “It does nothing for me. If I go up there and beat Jan Blachowicz, what does that do for me? Jan, big respect, you big, strong, tough guy. I will happily decline.”
