Kamaru Usman (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

As Kamaru Usman gets set to battle Jorge Masvidal for a second time this Saturday at UFC 261, the welterweight champ sounds unsure about what could come next.

After Usman stopped Gilbert Burns in February, he called for a rematch with Masvidal, and the fight was booked. Although Usman worked his way to a decision win over Masvidal last July, the latter and others have pointed to the fact he took the fight on short notice.

As it stands right now, it’s not clear who could be next for Usman, if he beats Masvidalf for a second time. Colby Covington, who is currently ranked #1, was stopped by Usman in their 2019 fight. The controversial fighter has competed just once since then, as he defeated Tyron Woodley in September.

As a result, while talking to MMA Fighting recently, Usman said this.

“Yeah, these guys have to show me something to let know, to put the fear in me that ‘oh man, I’ve got to get up, I’ve got to wake up and get up and prepare for these guys,’” Usman said. “Because right now, there’s not much that they can offer me. There’s just not much cause I’m just so far ahead of them right now that I’m lapping these guys.

“Another thing that’s frustrating is these guys aren’t not wanting to fight each other. How is the champion the most active guy in the division? That’s ridiculous to me. Covington is offered to Masvidal, he turns him down. Edwards is offered to Covington, he turns him down. [Khamzat] Chimaev is offered to [Stephen] Thompson and he turns him down. These guys don’t want to fight each other but they’re waiting for the champion to just pull their number and say ‘all right, you come make some money and you come make some money.’ That’s what I mean. These guys need to go out there and put on a performance to where I’m like ‘wow.’ That motivates me. I’ve got to fight that guy.”

UFC 261 will be hosted by the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.