Ben Askren: Ex-UFC champ Kamaru Usman is 'likely over the hill'

08/29/2024 11:10 AM

Ben Askren believes UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad wanting to face Kamaru Usman is a win-win situation for him.

Muhammad (24-3 MMA, 15-3 UFC) told MMA Junkie that he’d be open to making his first title defense against either Usman or Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) is on a three-fight losing skid, but Muhammad has been igniting a feud with the former champion. Askren thinks Usman’s best days are behind him and that Muhammad is just looking to add a big name to his resume.

“I actually think Belal is getting the better of him (Usman) on the trash talk,” Askren said on his “Funky and the Champ” show with Daniel Cormier. “Usman has a big name, he’s a former champion, one of the longest-reigning welterweight champions. …One of the ways that Belal could see this: This is a guy with a big name, who held the belt for a while, and now he’s over the hill. So he could be an easier opponent for him potentially.

“That (Chimaev fight) was a little bit ago. So once you get over the hill, you get over the hill fast. He’s a little younger than I am. Maybe, potentially he’s looking at that fight vs. Shavkat. He’s going to be well known, but he’s not huge yet. I would say he’s likely over the hill. I do not like him. That being said, I believe my judgment to be correct. Fighters over the age of 35 at 170 and under are like 2-37. So, the facts are on my side, as well.”

Usman’s losses came twice to Leon Edwards in title fights – a come-from-behind knockout loss, followed by a close decision loss. He then suffered a short-notice majority decision loss at UFC 294 to Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight.