Kamaru Usman dismissed Ian Machado Garry’s claims that he avoided a fight with him, insisting he doesn’t run from opponents and will accept any UFC fight once he’s healthy, while questioning Garry’s significance as a potential opponent.
Kamaru Usman wasn’t thrilled with Ian Machado Garry’s claim that he dodged a fight with him. Instead, Usman ended up facing Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310.
Before the bout, Garry made some bold statements. He said Usman “has a big chest and little balls,” alleging the UFC told him, “Kamaru Usman wants nothing to do with you.” After Garry lost to Rakhmonov, Usman was questioned about a future match with the fiery Irishman. His response? Heated.
“Does he even deserve that?” Usman asked on his Pound-for-Pound podcast. He addressed the chatter leading up to the fight. Garry claimed everyone’s running from him. Usman countered, “I don’t run from anybody. No one.”
He continued, “I don’t know too many guys who are going to run from anyone because this is the game. We fight to make money. If we don’t fight, we don’t get paid.” The idea of fighters being scared? Absurd to Usman. “Who are you?” he questioned. “Who are you that I of all people am scared of you?”
Usman’s last fight was a close decision against Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023. It was a short-notice middleweight bout.
The UFC did approach him about fighting Rakhmonov after Belal Muhammad got injured. But Usman just wasn’t healthy enough yet.
After Garry took the fight, he criticized top welterweights for allegedly ducking Rakhmonov. Opportunities missed, according to Garry.
Usman’s response? Once he’s ready, he’ll take any fight offered by the UFC. Garry’s jabs? Not losing sleep over them.
“I guess he was upset because he wanted me to be his late notice replacement,” Usman remarked. “Who the f*ck is that guy for me to be a late replacement for?”
His focus remains on getting healthy. “It doesn’t matter who it is,” he said. When he’s back in shape, bring on anyone—even King Kong and his brothers—if they can make 170. So it goes.