Kamaru Usman denies rumors of a knee injury and asserts that his knees are fine and will be utilized in his upcoming fight against Khamzat Chimaev.
Kamaru Usman has swiftly responded to the rumors circulating about him injuring his knee during the UFC 294 open workout in Abu Dhabi. During the workout, he partnered with Justin Gaethje, and after executing a takedown, some MMA observers claimed to hear Usman mention that “something popped” in his knee. At a press conference held on Thursday for UFC 294, Usman confidently addressed the concern, assuring everyone that he is fully prepared to face Khamzat Chimaev in the co-main event on Saturday’s fight card.
During the press conference, Usman firmly stated, “I’m fine. That’s how rumors start — somebody posts something, everyone starts jumping on it, and then all of the doctors start jumping on it. The knees are fine, and they’ll be put to use this Saturday.” Despite his clear denial, the former welterweight champion took to his YouTube channel to address the issue more personally. In a video posted Thursday morning, Usman directly called out those who spread the claim, questioning how they could have possibly heard what he said during the open workout where he and Justin Gaethje performed on a stage in front of a large audience in a mall. He dismissed the rumors as baseless, stating, “How stupid. Just dumb, and if my knee was hurt, why would I get up and [go on] hitting mitts? Oh my God, people believe anything you put on this internet. Anything. Any f****** thing. Whoever that was, stop it. Stop the clickbait, did not say that. Clearly I’m fine. Dummies.”
With this clear and direct response, Usman aims to put an end to the circulating rumors and shut down clickbait articles that may have emerged from them. His confidence and determination to compete on Saturday demonstrate his commitment and readiness for the upcoming fight against Chimaev. As he faces this challenge in the co-main event of UFC 294, Usman wants everyone to know that his knees are intact and ready to be utilized to their fullest potential.