Rumors suggest former welterweight champion Leon Edwards may face Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena in UFC London’s main event this March. Ranked No. 1 and No. 4, Edwards and Maddalena’s potential matchup complicates things for No. 3 contender Kamaru Usman.
Kamaru Usman Breaks Silence on Comeback
It has been 15 months since Kamaru Usman last stepped into the UFC octagon, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the return of the former pound-for-pound king.
If Edwards vs. Maddalena headlines UFC London, Usman’s options for a comeback opponent become significantly limited. On the Pound-4-Pound Podcast, Usman criticized Ian Machado Garry and Joaquin Buckley for their frequent, disrespectful callouts.Usman talked about this when he said;
“This is the thing, as we enter 2025, let me make it clear for everyone: if we don’t fight, we don’t make money. I like money, you like money… If I don’t fight, I don’t make money,”
“People keep saying, ‘Oh, you’re not taking fights.’ I want to fight, but if I’m not healthy, I can’t perform at my best or give you the version of ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ you’re used to seeing. So, for all the stupid fighters out there saying I’m scared to fight – shut your mouths. No one is scared of you!”
Usman is on a three-fight losing streak, but he gave Khamzat Chimaev his toughest challenge, even at middleweight.
“I’ve been at the top of this division, pound-for-pound, ruling with an iron fist and dominating all of you for a while. I’m eager to get back in there, fight, and shut you all up. So, to the welterweights running their mouths, just wait until I’m healthy again.”
If we set aside Leon Edwards, Jack Della Maddalena, and Shavkat Rakhmonov as possible opponents, a comeback fight against fighters like Garry, Buckley, or even Sean Brady could make sense. Wins over any of these names would place Usman squarely back in title contention.
“I’ll fight all of you, I don’t care—just be patient. Thank you. 2025 is going to be a great year for everyone. All love and peace—relax, guys,” Usman concluded.
Usman and Cejudo React to Islam Makhachev’s Playful Jab and Growing Charisma
In addition to discussing Usman’s plan for 2025 and Henry Cejudo’s upcoming fight against Song Yadong, the Pound-4-Pound Podcast hosts addressed one of the week’s most viral moments.
In an interview with Demetrious Johnson, Islam Makhachev jokingly claimed they needed his “permission” to name their podcast.
“Islam, why do me like that?!” Usman laughed in response. “Hey, listen, it is what it is—Islam is the pound-for-pound king right now, so of course, he gets to make certain decisions about that.”
Cejudo chimed in with a grin, “He’s greedy, bro. He wants all the pound-for-pound for himself—as he should,” This was before highlighting how enjoyable it’s been to see Islam Makhachev’s personality shine through.
“Obviously, he’s got a tough matchup with Arman, but the biggest thing is that Islam is coming out of his shell.” Cejudo added, “We know Khabib’s charisma, and now we’re starting to see more of that from Makhachev too.”
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
