2 days ago
UFC news: Worrisome report about Kamaru Usman's health emerges days before return at UFC Atlanta
Kamaru Usman's manager recently revealed some worrisome information about his client that is not a good sign ahead of his long-awaited UFC return fight this Saturday.
'I can tell you, Kamaru — for the last seven, eight years — he had to get six, seven injections to be able to fight,' Ali Abdel-Aziz revealed during an appearance on Submission Radio. 'Knee, shoulder, you name it. He always got something.'
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Abdel-Aziz also claimed the one-time welterweight champion is in some of the best shape he has seen him in over the last few years. Unfortunately, every fighter, coach, or agent always seems to say things are great health-wise ahead of a fight. The agent's revelation, however, is a fact and is the clearest evidence that the UFC great's best days are way behind him.
Usman will go down as one of the greatest welterweights of all time. 'The Nigerian Nightmare' went on an absolute tear after winning Season 21 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2015. He would win 15 straight to begin his UFC career, including five successful title defenses after defeating Tyrone Woodley for the belt in 2019.
Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-Imagn Images
Kamaru Usman record: 20-4 (9 KOs, 1 submission)
But over the last three years, the father time has started to hover over Kamaru Usman's shoulder. The former champ has suffered three straight losses. While the setbacks came against elite talent like Leon Edwards and a middleweight clash with Khamzat Chimaev, he has shown obvious signs of age.
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He is no longer the dominant wrestler he once was, and his hand speed has understandably slowed down. Match that with never being a heavy puncher, and now the competition has quickly caught up to him. The injections over the last few years show his body is quickly breaking down at 38, and after a long career in mixed martial arts and amateur wrestling before that.
Usman will face fast-rising welterweight stud Joaquin Buckley in the main event of UFC Atlanta this Saturday. Buckley is right in the middle of his prime at 31, and he is a deadly striker. This is the former champ's first fight in close to two years.
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