Kamaru Usman was “super nervous” ahead of his short-notice showdown with Jorge Masvidal.
In 2019, ‘Gamebred’ was one of the biggest stars in the MMA game courtesy of a victory over Darren Till and his BMF title-winning performance against Nate Diaz. However, it was his insane five-second flying knee knockout of Ben Askren in between those two fights that really cemented his status and set the stage for a future shot at UFC gold.
Masvidal on Ben Askren https://t.co/bAfwB8YtNw pic.twitter.com/qOZyrzOSjj
— Invictus (@Chukwunwike_) April 27, 2024
“I say one of the most violent [knockouts] because of, he was out for almost like two, three minutes,” Usman said of Masvidal’s KO win over Askren on his Pound 4 Pound podcast. “He was out. I remember I was there. I remember watching like, ‘Oh s***, he still stiff. Not is he out, but he’s still stiff. Then, all that happens, that was 2019 and then I think maybe a year later you and I fight…”
Less than a year later, ‘Gamebred’ was handed his first shot at the welterweight title.
Originally, Usman was scheduled to defend the 170-pound crown against Gilbert Burns at UFC 251 until ‘Durinho’ was forced to withdraw due to COVID-19. On six days’ notice, Masvidal agreed to fly from Miami to ‘Fight Island’ in Abu Dhabi and take Burns’ spot.
Having already defended the belt twice before, this was far from Usman’s first rodeo, but that didn’t stop him from feeling uneasy about the rather risky endeavor.
“Of course, we get nervous for every fight, but one of the first times it got to me, everything around me got to me because, bro, they’re playing your viral knockout, one the most viral knockouts ever,” Usman said of the Askren knockout. “They’re playing that thing every freaking minute on every channel everywhere, on all the socials everywhere.
“I’m like, ‘Oh, this guy’s trying to come in on six days notice…’ Now I’m trying to make the mental switch. Like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna be fighting a different style. He’s [got] fast hands. He’s a good counterpuncher.’ I’m trying to picture all this, but I’m seeing this every day. They’re asking me every interview, how are you gonna deal with this? I’m watching your interviews and you’re [saying] ‘I’m gonna baptize this guy.’
“[Masvidal] f*cking gets to me. I’m like, ‘Oh sh*t, is he gonna baptize me? What the f*ck is it? I’m in a hotel and I’m super nervous for this, especially that — that moment before you go to the arena for the fight, and I’m in my room just like, ‘Why the f*ck am I so nervous right now? Get it together…’ I would say that was probably one of the most nerve-wracking fights that I had.”
Kamaru Usman admits that he was “super nervous” before his first fight with Jorge Masvidal:
“I’m watching your interviews and you’re [saying] ‘I’m gonna baptize this guy’, and it f***ing gets to me.
I’m like ‘oh sh*t, is he gonna baptize me’. I’m in the hotel and I’m super… pic.twitter.com/O6loMDihnJ
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 20, 2024
