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Wednesday, Jun 24, 2020

UFC 251: Kamaru Usman Changes Training Camps in Advance of Gilbert Burns Fight

Kamaru Usman (photo via YouTube)

By FCF Staff

It looks like Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns could be ex-teammates, permanently, as they get set to fight at UFC 251.

Burns (19-3) has been scheduled to fight the welterweight champion at the July 11th event, after defeating Tyron Woodley last month. When the fight was booked, both Burns and Usman were training out of Sanford MMA in Florida.

But, recently Usman (16-1) has confirmed that he’s headed to Denver to train with renowned coach, Trevor Whittman. While discussing the move with ESPN, the champion said this.

“Florida was the base for a long time, but you grow from there,” Usman said. “We always had a ton of guys, some of the best training partners out there and some great coaches.”

“But I wanted a little more specific attention at this point in my career — someone to be able to say, ‘You’re going to come in at this time and work on this particular skill.’ It’s very tough to do that when there are 40 to 50 guys in the room with you who also need to get attention.”

And while talking about the fact he’s changed up his camp, not far out from the July 11th bout, Usman said this.

“I think eventually I would have changed things up anyway,” Usman said. “We had a lot of welterweights at that gym. At some point, when you’re training with these guys on a daily basis and you’re the champion of the world, these guys know you in and out and if they get the better of you one day, they’re licking their chops thinking it’s their time. A little separation from that is good. It keeps that element of surprise, because these guys feel like they know you.”

Usman hasn’t fought since December, when he stopped Colby Covington in the fifth round.

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posted by FCF Staff @ 10:31 am
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