Dana White seems like a fan of Kamaru Usman but it hasn’t always been the case. In a recent sitdown with NFL icon Maxx Crosby and friends, the UFC head honcho opened up about ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ and the legacy he’s leaving behind today.

Usman last fought Khamzat Chimaev at short notice at UFC 294. ‘Borz’ dominated the fight and yet, still wasn’t able to submit Usman even after many attempts. It is no easy feat defending Chimaev’s submission attempts and takedowns that too at short notice and that just shows Usman’s prowess. Here’s what White said about the credit he should get that perhaps fans don’t give him.

Is Kamaru Usman still an underrated fighter?

Kamaru Usman was once a dominating reigning champion of the welterweight division. In 2022, Usman would fall to Leon Edwards via a brutal last-round head kick marking his first defeat in the UFC. Up until then, he’d run “through” everyone just like Dana White noted.

“Kamaru Usman.” White brought up the fighter while discussing dominant champions. “Usman, Usman was running through guys twice. You know what I mean? Usman does not get the credit he deserves. . . I don’t know what it is, you know, the fans or whatever, I think when Kamaru’s gone, then they’ll appreciate it, you know what I mean but that guy never turned down a fight.”

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The UFC boss clearly holds that ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ doesn’t get his flowers more often. Is it the fans’ fault that Usman doesn’t get enough credit? Perhaps he should be talked about more. Interestingly, there was also an interesting case of conflict between White and Usman in the past. At one point, Usman defeated Emil Meek in 2018 but his comments after the fight would go on to upset White.

Kamaru Usman and Meek fought in a manner that may have underwhelmed many fans with Usman dominating his opponent on the ground. Boos from the audience towards the UFC mainstay were loud and clear. Later, Usman would go on to claim that he won that fight only at “30%”.

What does 30% that made Dana White mad mean?

Kamaru Usman later clarified that he meant that he fought Meek at only 30% health. However, at first, it appeared as if he was speaking of his power as if he only gave his 30% to the fight and still won. Obviously, the UFC boss was not happy with Usman’s comments.

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“It’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard somebody say, and you’re getting booed out of the arena on top of it,” White said about the fight, one he claimed he did not enjoy. He also flamed the fighter asking how much of his performance would he give for a PPV. Would it be 60%?

It appeared as if Usman’s comments haunted him a bit as well as memes would fly around and other fighters would reference it again and again. Either way, it looks like everything is okay between the two now, years after the incident. Do you think Kamaru Usman is underrated still?

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