Kamaru Usman Explains Why Islam Makhachev Made the Right Call On UFC 336

Kamaru Usman backs Islam Makhachev’s UFC 336 call© Instagram/ usman84kg

Kamaru Usman has backed Islam Makhachev after the UFC welterweight champion said no to a UFC 336 fight with Carlos Prates. Makhachev was booked for the date but declined, so the promotion built an interim title bout between Prates and Michael Morales instead. Makhachev has taken heavy criticism for the move, and plenty of fans call it a duck. Usman sees a business decision. The former welterweight champion explained his view on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, and it comes down to who can sell tickets on a numbered card.

Why Did Kamaru Usman Back Islam Makhachev's UFC 336 Decision?

Usman and Makhachev share a manager in Ali Abdelaziz, so it is fair to ask how neutral the take is. The argument itself is practical. Usman asked who could replace a headliner of Makhachev's size and still fill an arena.

“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?'” Usman said.

In his view, Prates and Morales are close but need one more win over a top name with real clout. Neither has the draw yet to carry a numbered card alone. Even so, Usman likes the matchup.

“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,” he said.

The decision also changes the title picture. The winner of Prates against Morales moves on to the undisputed belt, while the loser drops out of contention for now. Whoever wins will be next in line, and Makhachev will have no room to refuse.

How Does Usman Rate Himself Against Georges St-Pierre?

Usman has never shied away from bold takes. On the same podcast, he argued against the idea of a single greatest fighter.

“There's no greatest of all time. It's greatest of your time.”

He then applied the idea to himself. “I think in his time he was the greatest. And being the competitor that I am, that I was, I think in my time I was good enough to beat him. But that is my opinion,” Usman said.

The comment fits his UFC 336 stance. Both come down to Usman judging stars by what they carry in their own time.

Usman matched St-Pierre's record of 12 straight wins in the UFC welterweight division. St-Pierre finished 26-2, made nine consecutive title defenses and won belts at welterweight and middleweight, retiring in 2017 after taking the middleweight title. Usman is 21-5 and has gone 1-4 in his last five fights since losing to Leon Edwards in 2022. His latest loss came in his middleweight debut. St-Pierre has the stronger résumé on paper.