Kamaru Usman: Nigerian Nightmare says he did not duck Shavkat Rakhmonov

Ian Machado Garry and Shavkat Rakhmonov will fight in the Octagon at the UFC this weekend.

Rakhmonov was supposed to face Belal Muhammad for the UFC Welterweight Title.

However, the 170-pound champion developed a foot infection and then plans were altered.

Prior to the announcement of Garry as Rakhmonov's new opponent, Kamaru Usman was mentioned as a potential choice.

"The Nigerian Nightmare" acknowledged that he would have liked more time to adequately get ready for someone of Rakhmonov's caliber.

For those who genuinely believe that Kamaru Usman evaded Shavkat Rakhmonov, he had a powerful message during a recent episode of the "Pound 4 Pound" podcast.

He said, “I’m seeing online people go, ‘Oh, you scared? You ducked him?’ Like, what? This is the same sentiment that I feel like people are doing to Jon Jones.

"When people were your fans or fans of a fighter don’t get their desired wish that they want, ‘That’s the fight I want,’ then it’s like, ‘Oh, no, that guy must be scared because he didn’t take the fight Like guys, shut up.

“We step in there each and every time. I have 22 or 25 fights, but everyone, ‘Oh, he’s scared?’ Yeah, okay, world champion and defending belts time and time again.

October 2023 was the last time since Usman last fought in the Octagon.

The Nigerian Nightmare will turn 38, and many people are curious about how much energy he will have left as he ihas lost his last three fights.