Kamaru Usman (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Although Kamaru Usman recorded a clear-cut win over Jorge Masvidal last summer, the welterweight champ wants to run it back with his rival.

Usman (18-1) took on Gilbert Burns on Saturday night at UFC 258, and came back from an early knockdown to stop his former teammate in round three. After the memorable win, Usman made it clear that he wants to fight Masvidal one more time, while talking about his next bout (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“He had a built-in excuse,” Usman said, while referring to his decision win over Masvidal at UFC 251. We tried to make that fight twice before; he said no. … He’s been saying no. The only reason he took that fight on ‘Fight Island’ is because there was a built-in excuse. He was training the whole time, but he said, ‘Oh, I only had six days’ notice so that’s why that went that way.’ Well guess what? I’ll give you a whole training camp, and this time I will stop him. I promise you.

“…I’m going to put him in a coffin this time,” Usman said. “He don’t want that fight. He don’t want that fight. I guarantee he don’t want that fight. I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t want it. Have I lied up here yet? Have I lied to you guys yet about anything? Nothing. I said what I wanted to do, and that’s what I’m going to do. We’ll see if it materializes.”

Usman was initially scheduled to fight Burns at UFC 251. But, when Burns tested positive for COVID-19, Masvidal agreed to take the fight on just days notice.

Masvidal (35-14) has yet to fight since the loss.