Their is a Brewing Storm Between Usman and Muhammad
Tensions are nearing a boil between Kamaru Usman and Belal Muhammad—and it’s not just internet drama. Beneath the memes and podcast whispers lies a rivalry that could reshape the UFC welterweight landscape.
Kamaru Usman, once the dominant force at 170 pounds, hasn’t fought since his loss to Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023—a bout he accepted on short notice and at a higher weight class. Now back in his division, Usman prepares for a high-stakes return against Joaquin Buckley on June 14. But curiously, the name rolling off his tongue more often than Buckley’s is that of the current champion: Belal Muhammad.
Their mutual disdain isn’t new. Verbal jabs have been exchanged across platforms for months, but a recent incident during the recording of Usman’s “Pound 4 Pound” podcast—with co-host Henry Cejudo—hinted that the feud may have gotten physical. The details are still under wraps, but Usman’s cryptic comments suggest something went down behind the scenes. “It wasn’t really long, and then it was over and he left,” he remarked about Muhammad’s brief appearance.
Usman’s frustration seems to center on Muhammad’s approach to stardom. He described the champion as someone more interested in Twitter spats and meme wars than the honor of the octagon.
“Belal just seems to be a different type of champion who’s willing to make memes, he’s willing to get on Twitter, social media, because he wants the attention,” Usman told ESPN. “He craves that attention. Even if you’re a lightweight, even if you’re a guy that’s a flyweight who’s not in the division, he’s willing to have that back-and-forth with you. And for me, I just find it a little bit distasteful, and I wasn’t a part of it.
What’s fascinating here is the psychological warfare. Muhammad has a knack for unsettling his peers before ever sharing the cage with them. Just like Leon Edwards got sidetracked before facing Sean Brady—a distraction that cost him dearly—Usman now risks repeating that mistake. Instead of laser-focusing on Buckley, he’s talking about Muhammad.
I have a bigger question…Can Usman still fight instead of being a drama queen and creating beef? We haven’t seen him in a long time.
I get it, Usman wants a title shot, so he wants a good story, so Dana gives it to him. But, he’s gotta get through Buckley first.
