Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman will return to the octagon this weekend against Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta. Ahead of the scheduled bout, Usman was spotted training with Justin Gaethje.
'The Highlight' and 'The Nigerian Nightmare' have trained together for years and sparred on many occasions. In a recent training clip shared by Usman and subsequently reshared by Red Corner MMA on X, Usman forced the tap from Gaethje with a perfect arm-triangle choke.
Check out Justin Gaethje getting submitted by Kamaru Usman below:
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Usman's last bout was his middleweight debut against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in 2023. The former replaced Paulo Costa on short notice and lost via majority decision to Chimaev. He is on a three-fight losing streak, previously having lost his welterweight crown to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 and failing to regain it at UFC 286 in 2023.
Justin Gaethje wants UFC title shot or will retire
Justin Gaethje's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has revealed that his client wants a shot at the UFC lightweight title next or will retire. Abdelaziz told Submission Radio that 'The Highlight' is expected to fight the new lightweight champion who will be crowned at UFC 317. He also said:
"They needed him [Justin Gaethje] and he was there regardless. He's done so much for the sport. He [Justin] said, 'If I'm not going to fight for the title, I'm just gonna hang up my gloves.'"
Abdelaziz added:
"He said, 'I'm not gonna get a title shot. I feel disrespected. I love being a UFC fighter. I love the UFC, but I feel the UFC has to love me back.' He doesn't feel the love right now, but listen, at the end of the day, I think they love him. I think they'll give him what he wanted, but at the end of the day, we have to see what happens first between Charles and Ilia."
Check out Ali Abdelaziz's comments below:
Gaethje most recently fought Rafael Fiziev in a rematch at UFC 313, which he won by unanimous decision. While there were talks about him facing Islam Makhachev next, the latter vacated his lightweight throne, which will be up for grabs later this month at UFC 317 when Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira clash.