Dana White Scoffs at Kamaru Usman's Callout of Khamzat Chimaev for One Key Reason

Dana White isn't gung-ho over Kamaru Usman calling out Khamzat Chimaev for one specific reason.
(via Kamaru Usman's Instagram)

UFC President Dana White doesn't like the idea Kamaru Usman has for a showdown with Khamzat Chimaev.

Usman recently told ESPN that he doesn't feel there are a lot of interesting fights out there for him, but admitted a showdown with Chimaev is intriguing. "Borz" responded to "The Nigerian Nightmare," and he called Usman a "good fighter" in a video posted on Red Corner MMA.

Why Dana White Dismisses Kamaru Usman's Callout

While a clash between Usman and Chimaev sounds exciting to many fight fans on paper, the details are what have White throwing the yellow flag. Usman suggested that a catchweight bout would be beneficial for both himself and Chimaev. White disagrees, and he let it be known on "The Jim Rome Show" that he isn't considering the catchweight aspect of the fight.

"No, 'cause what I hate about that fight and calling him out, Usman is calling him out, but at a catchweight," White said. "I don't do catchweights. I don't like catchweights. Catchweights mean nothing. They mean absolutely nothing. If he wants to move up to 185 and fight him, we can talk about it, but trying to fight him at a catchweight, I'm not interested in it."

Usman has been telling reporters that he has found his love for fighting again after suffering two straight losses to Leon Edwards. In his first defeat to "Rocky," Usman was knocked out in the fifth round via head kick. Before the knockout, Usman appeared to be well on his way to a unanimous decision victory. He lost the UFC Welterweight Championship in that bout. His second loss to Edwards was via majority decision.

Chimaev has been off to a hot start in his pro MMA career. He has an undefeated record of 12-0 and has only gone the distance once in his career. He is the number-three-ranked UFC welterweight.

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Fernando Quiles Jr.
FERNANDO QUILES JR.

Fernando has over a decade of combat sports news writing experience. He currently covers MMA, boxing, and pro wrestling. Fernando joined MMA Knockout as the Lead Writer/Editor when it was founded in 2023.