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Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is returning to action this weekend in the co-main event of UFC 294 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Usman (20-3) will be looking to snap a two-fight losing streak when he takes on one of the most dangerous fighters in mixed martial arts, Khamzat Chimaev.
On Wednesday, Usman and some of the top stars fighting at UFC 294 hit the mats for open workouts when there was a scary moment for fans.
Video circulated on social media showing Usman grappling with former UFC interim lightweight champion and BMF titleholder Justin Gaethje when he took Gaethje to the ground. There was a brief exchange between the two men, and some MMA blogs posted the video claiming that Usman appeared to say, “something popped.”
Kamaru seems to have said something popped during his open work out for UFC 294
via @MMAJunkie pic.twitter.com/KljK5EH9jK
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) October 18, 2023
That caused some panic on MMA Twitter with some fearing Usman would be forced out of the bout after agreeing to take on Chimaev on short notice.
But, luckily for the fans and Usman’s health, he and Gaethje took to social media to clear the air.
According to Gaethje, he asked Usman if he was okay because he thought the former champion hit his head on the mat during the takedown.
“He said I’m good or something like that. I thought he hit his head on the mat. I asked him if he hit his head in this clip when we got up and he said no,” Gaethje wrote on Twitter/X.
Usman, however, wasn’t as polite and ripped into the MMA blog Bloody Elbow with an expletive-filled tweet saying he never said “something popped” and that he was fine.
This is why no one reads this shitty ass blog. At what point while I was lightly drilling did you hear me say that to Justin. Stop with the clickbait you idiots 🙄🙄
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) October 18, 2023
“This is why no one reads this sh*tty-ass blog. At what point while I was lightly drilling did you hear me say that to Justin,” Usman wrote. “Stop with the clickbait you idiots.”
Phew. We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief.
It would have been incredibly unfortunate for Usman to have suffered an injury just days ahead of the pay-per-view bout, but luckily, he is assuring everyone that he will be good to go for one of the most anticipated bouts on the card.
UFC 294 will kick off at 10:00 a.m. ET with the preliminary card on ESPN+. The action then shifts to pay-per-view beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET.
You can check out more information on UFC 294 below.
UFC 294: Fight Time & Viewing Details
Event: UFC 294: Makhachev vs Volkanovski 2
Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Venue: Etihad Arena
Main Card Card Time: 2:00 p.m. ET
Broadcast: Pay-per-view, ESPN+
