Kamaru Usman Believes the Fans Are Now ‘Entitled’ to Seeing Him in the UFC’s Octagon
In an informal chat with UFC royalty, MMA pundit and broadcaster Chael Sonnen spoke to Kamaru Usman, Henry Cejudo, and Khabib Nurmagomedov who had all gathered for the Eagle FC 47 event. Sonnen went around the table asking all the famed athletes specific questions regarding their careers and eventually pointed towards the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’.
Notably, Chael Sonnen asked Usman about the timeline for his return from active competition following a comprehensive hand surgery. Per Usman, his hand still needed a few weeks of healing, and he also shared a new, interesting perspective on the matter.
‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ commented on how the fans had somewhat taken his frequent strength of schedule for granted and expected him to compete in the cage no matter what the surrounding circumstances were. Usman looked to move past this fan ‘entitlement’ and is keen to
“I never really take time off to do anything. Now that I am forced to, especially with the year that I had last year, it’s almost like the fans, and the media and the public are kind of entitled to me being in there, next week, next month.”
“I’m seeing all these news everywhere which is why I stay off the internet nowadays. It’s like ‘Oh you’re fighting in June, Oh you’re fighting in July. The biggest thing for me right now is to make sure I want to be able to fight healthy, and be able to get more fights in.”
Usman’s activity rate in recent years has been impressive, to say the least, and he’s elevated his game as well. He’s let go of the image of being a slow-paced fighter and has become an action-oriented champion who seeks the finish under any circumstance. It’s this increase in intensity that has allowed Usman to become a household name in the sport over the years.
The MMA community will be on the lookout for Kamaru Usman’s long-awaited return, as he’s admittedly made some positive steps on his road to recovery. In the meantime, the UFC might consider putting up an interim title until Usman is ready to return.
