Kamaru Usman is preparing for his welterweight title defence against Gilbert Burns by enlisting Justin Gaethje as a sparring partner.
‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ will defend his 170lbs belt for the second time on Fight Island on July 11 at UFC 251 – a card containing three world title fights.
Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman set about trading leather as their session ended up on the feet
Justin Gaethje (Instagram)
Justin Gaethje and Kamaru Usman set about trading leather as their session ended up on the feet
Usman will take on one of the most in-form fighters on the UFC roster in Burns, who leapfrogged Jorge Masvidal and Leon Edwards to claim a title shot.
The Brazilian trained with Usman at Sandford MMA in Florida, so the champion decided to switch camps for this fight so as to not reveal secrets ahead of the scrap.
And it has led him to train with interim lightweight champion Gaethje in Denver, with the pair working under the tutelage of Trevor Wittman.
Given they are both represented by Dominance MMA, seeing the two train together is hardly surprising. What may come as a shock is the intensity and brutality of the training sessions less than two weeks away.
Gaethje shared the footage on his Instagram account, with Wittman looking on in the background like an excited spectator.
“Iron sharpens iron,” he wrote. “How much would you pay to watch this for a few rounds? @usman84kg is looking like a straight killer.
“Glad to have him in the room. Just two dudes having fun”
Although switching between Colorado and Florida would have been a huge upheaval for the 33-year-old, Usman admitted he had planned on making the switch simply because of the surplus of contenders at 170lbs.
Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight strap against Tony Ferguson in May
Gaethje claimed the interim lightweight strap against Tony Ferguson in May
“I think eventually I would have changed things up anyway,” Usman told Low Kick MMA.
“We had a lot of welterweights at that gym. At some point, when you’re training with these guys on a daily basis and you’re the champion of the world, these guys know you in and out and if they get the better of you one day, they’re licking their chops thinking it’s their time.
“A little separation from that is good. It keeps that element of surprise, because these guys feel like they know you.
“One thing I firmly believe is that it’s my work. You can be with a great coach, but if you’re not putting the effort in, that coach isn’t going to help you win. That coach isn’t going to get in and fight for you. I know I put the work in.”
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