Kamaru Usman (photo via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Kamaru Usman has been booked to fight a different opponent at UFC 251, with just several days notice. But, according to the welterweight champ, the fact he’s now facing Jorge Masvidal rather than Gilbert Burns, is just a “minor change”.

Burns was scheduled to fight his longtime teammate Usman at the July 11th event, but the decorated grappler tested positive for COVID-19 and has been removed.

Since it was confirmed that Masvidal is heading to Abu Dhabi now to fight Usman, the champion spoke with TMZ. While discussing the short notice change, Usman reported he’s not fazed by what’s transpired (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“It’s just a minor change, but at the end of the day, when you’re in training camp and you train the way that I train, you see no face,” Usman said. “At the end, you see no face. I have to be ready to, when I cross into that octagon, I have to turn on the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ and leave Kamaru Usman on the outside.

“Now it’s just a little extra push to go in there and really do some damage – so it didn’t make me no difference.”

Masvidal (35-13) will be fighting for the first time since last November, when he defeated Nate Diaz by TKO (due to a doctor stoppage).

Usman (16-1) hasn’t fought since December, when he stopped Colby Covington in the fifth round.