John McCarthy Believes Kamaru Usman Shouldn’t Move Up To LHW: ‘Crazy, Don’t Do It’

Usman has been teasing the idea of moving up two weight classes and challenging for the light heavyweight title.

Usman Style
(via @ufc - Instagram)

John McCarthy believes Kamaru Usman should remain at welterweight for a long time.

Usman is set to defend his welterweight title against Leon Edwards in a rematch that will headline the UFC 278 pay-per-view event next month.

However, “The Nigerian Nightmare” has been teasing the idea of moving up not one division, but two and potentially challenging for the light heavyweight title.

The main reason being his friend and fellow African Israel Adesanya currently reigning as the champion at 185 pounds.

Usman would obviously be at a natural size disadvantage regardless of whoever he ends up facing at 205 pounds, but remains confident in his chances as he looks to further cement his legacy.

But that’s a bad idea according to former MMA referee John McCarthy.

“I don’t wanna see him do it,” McCarthy said on his “Weighing In” podcast (via MMA Junkie). “I like Kamaru Usman. I think Kamaru Usman’s a phenomenal fighter. I think 170 pounds is a great weight class for him, and 205 is too big.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CgCPWKQAfie/

John McCarthy Tells Kamaru Usman To ‘Stay The King’

As of right now, Usman has a perfect record in the UFC.

He is 15-0 and a win over Edwards would make it six title defenses. If he keeps racking the defenses up, it’ll only be a matter of time before he eclipses Georges St-Pierre and is regarded as the greatest welterweight of all time.

McCarthy believes that’s what Usman should do instead of taking the crazy risk of going up 35 pounds in weight.

“The guy’s got a great gas tank, he’s got great wrestling, his stand up has gotten really good. … He’s a phenomenal MMA fighter, and at 170, dude, he’s the king,” McCarthy added. “Stay the king. Don’t go up that far.

“We’re talking about 35 pounds of weight class. Thirty-five. Crazy, don’t do it.”

Do you agree with Big John McCarthy?

Published on July 15, 2022 at 12:25 am
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