Ali Abdelaziz is baffled by Kamaru Usman’s drop in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Usman (20-2 MMA, 15-1 UFC), who was ranked No. 1, was pushed back to the No. 4 spot after losing his welterweight title to Leon Edwards at UFC 278. Usman was up 3-1 on the judges’ scorecards heading into Round 5, but was blasted with a head kick with just a minute remaining in the fight.
Considering that Usman was winning the fight and had reigned supreme on the welterweight division for years, his manager Abdelaziz thinks his current ranking is unfair.
“One of the things I don’t say that is how Kamaru Usman became the No.4 or No.5 pound-for-pound fighter?,” Abdelaziz told MMA Underground. “How? It’s crazy. I think Kamaru should be No.2, even head of Islam (Makhachev) to be honest with you. The man lost a second in the whole fight outside the first round. He was dominant. They’re syrup on tequila or something? Because they drunk because Kamaru Usman is the greatest fighter in the UFC today.”
He continued, “He has so many defenses, he has so many great fights, but it is what it is.”
Usman defended his welterweight title five times over Colby Covington (twice), Gilbert Burns and Jorge Masvidal (twice) before getting dethroned by Edwards for his first octagon loss.
The No. 2 spot, which Abdelaziz thinks should be Usman’s, is currently held by another client of his Islam Makhachev. Makhachev dominated Charles Oliveira to capture the vacant lightweight title at UFC 280 and will make his first title defense against No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 284 on Feb. 11.
