The ongoing rivalry between Belal Muhammad and Kamaru Usman escalated following claims by Muhammad that a past confrontation during a podcast recording left Usman in tears and led to the episode‘s mysterious disappearance, fueling the continuing Kamaru Usman podcast altercation controversy. Both fighters are former welterweight champions, but personal history seems to add further intensity to their potential bout.
Muhammad has made no secret of his desire to face Usman in the octagon, arguing that they are two of the largest figures in the welterweight division. The two fighters previously clashed during an episode of Usman’s ‘Pound-4-Pound’ podcast alongside Henry Cejudo. Reports indicate that the confrontation became heated, resulting in the unreleased status of the podcast, which Muhammad easily points to as evidence of unresolved conflict between them.
Muhammad Alleges Usman Was Emotionally Impacted During Unreleased Podcast
According to Muhammad, the missing podcast episode involved a physical and verbal altercation, the details of which have remained largely out of public view. Speaking about the incident, Muhammad recounted:
“I was on his podcast, made him cry,”
—Belal Muhammad, speaking to Home of Fight
He further suggested that the confrontation was a major reason for the podcast’s vanishing act, joking about the likelihood of it resurfacing if their fight gets scheduled as a promotional tool, referencing the infamous Khabib-Conor bus incident for comparison. He reiterated his claim by stating:
“Usman cried. Tears coming out his eyes,”
—Belal Muhammad, speaking to Home of Fight
Muhammad speculated that Usman might want to have the audio altered or use AI technology to edit the confrontation out, perhaps eager to manage his own public image after such a heated exchange.
“The guy’s ego is so big, when you talk to the guy and tell him, and he realizes he’s not where he was or where he used to be or who he thinks he is, I don’t think he can deal with that, physically or mentally.”
—Belal Muhammad, speaking to Home of Fight
Usman Shifts Focus Away From Muhammad Despite Public Challenge
Despite Muhammad’s determination, a fight between the two may not be immediate. Following his recent victory over Joaquin Buckley at <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/mma/ufc/”>UFC Atlanta, Usman downplayed the idea of facing Muhammad, expressing more interest in securing another title shot in the welterweight division. Muhammad, however, argued that they are currently the top names in their category, which makes their matchup logical given their rivalry and the hidden podcast incident.
“When you think of that division, the biggest names, we’re both two of the biggest names in the division, especially right now,”
—Belal Muhammad, speaking to Home of Fight
“It makes complete sense with the back and forth, the history, their hidden podcast. All that stuff.”
—Belal Muhammad, speaking to Home of Fight
Confidence in the Cage and Calls for a Showdown
Should the fight become official, Muhammad is adamant about his dominance. His analysis of Usman’s capabilities was dismissive, confident in his own tactical advantages on all fronts: grappling, striking, and stamina. He criticized Usman’s recent performance and accused him of looking for easier fights rather than facing him.
“There’s levels. I’ve been watching him for so long, wanting to fight him for so long, because I know I match up very well with him. He made it look easy against Buckley but you’re not going to take me down. You’re not going to out-strike me. You’re not going to out-cardio me. That’s why I see him trying to avoid the fight, looking for an easier matchup, calling 185 title fights, and random stuff like that. This guy’s delusional.”
—Belal Muhammad, speaking to Home of Fight
Significance and What Could Follow
The dispute over the hidden podcast has intensified the Kamaru Usman podcast altercation controversy, raising the profile of a potential future clash between the two. With both Muhammad and Usman former welterweight champions and key names like Henry Cejudo connected to their history, the unresolved conflict continues to attract attention. If a fight is scheduled, the incident involving the unreleased episode may serve the UFC’s promotional interests, echoing earlier high-profile moments such as the Khabib-Conor bus altercation.
For now, fans and the MMA community are left waiting to see whether Usman will accept the mounting challenge, or if this controversy will remain a talking point without being settled in the octagon.