Kamaru Usman Agrees With Islam Makhachev’s UFC 336 Decision

UFC legend Kamaru Usman said that he agrees with UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev’s determination not to struggle at UFC 336.

Makhachev was set to struggle Carlos Prates at UFC 336, but he declined to struggle on that date, main to the creation of an interim UFC welterweight title bout between Prates and Michael Morales.

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Makhachev has been closely criticized for his determination to flip down Prates, but Usman, who is also managed by Dominance MMA’s Ali Abdelaziz, says he agrees with the champ’s determination to say no to Prates.

Kamaru Usman Supports Islam Makhachev

Speaking on the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast, Usman said that he supports Makhachev’s determination to decline a matchup against Prates at UFC 336.

“If you’re gonna replace a staple like Kamaru Usman, you’ve gotta be able to put in someone like Islam. If you’re gonna take out someone like an Islam Makhachev, who’s that next guy right now looking in that welterweight division that you can put there and say, ‘I can do a numbered event that people are really gonna pack the arena for?’ I think these guys are well on the way, but I feel like they just need maybe one more. One more against a top guy that still has big clout. I think this is a phenomenal matchup. Either guy wins this here, they are A-tier to potentially succeed if Islam Makhachev loses the belt or gives up the belt,” Usman said (via Bloody Elbow).

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Did Islam Makhachev Make the Right Call?

If you ask Usman, then Makhachev made the proper call turning down Prates for UFC 336.

But if you ask most followers, they do not agree with this take, as many believe that Makhachev ducked preventing a robust title challenger.

With Makhachev not preventing Prates, it eliminates one of Prates or Morales from preventing Makhachev for the belt anytime soon, as the winner will struggle for the undisputed title, while the loser will be eradicated from title competition for now.

Only time will inform if Makhachev made the proper call, but either means, he won’t be ready to say no to the winner of Prates/Morales.

This article was initially printed on HEAVY

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