Kamaru Usman faced numerous formidable opponents during his reign as UFC welterweight champion, including high-profile rivals like Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. However, the fighter who presented the most unique and emotionally taxing challenge was someone he knew incredibly well: Gilbert Burns.
Burns, a former lightweight, climbed impressively through the 170-pound ranks with a series of dominant performances. As he and Usman, who had trained together extensively, solidified their positions as the top two fighters in the division, it became inevitable that their friendship would have to take a backseat to their shared dream of holding the championship belt.
Kamaru Usman Recalls the UFC Countdown Moment
While Gilbert Burns respectfully campaigned for his title shot after defeating Tyron Woodley, the reality of the matchup against his friend was a significant emotional challenge for Kamaru Usman. Both fighters, now back to being good friends, recently discussed the tense lead-up to their UFC 258 clash on the Pound 4 Pound podcast.
Usman explained that because he was the one who left their original team to train elsewhere for the fight, he constantly felt a sense of division, as if people were choosing sides or spreading rumors. However, he pinpointed one particular moment that had the most profound impact on him, largely due to his close relationship with Burns` children.
“All of these things were festering and then I see posts and then what really took me over the edge was watching the Countdown.
“He was walking with Pedro and Josh, they were walking along maybe some little canal and they’re talking and he asked them, and I love Pedro. I used to love playing with Pedro when he was small and he says, ‘Who’s going to be the new champion?,’ and Pedro and Josh were like, ‘Daddy’. ‘Who’s going to take this belt?,’ And they were like, ‘Daddy, you’re going to take the belt’. It just hit me in my heart. I don’t know why.”
Usman described the camp as the most emotionally draining of his career. At the time, this moment with Burns` children triggered feelings of paranoia and mistrust towards people he was once close with, making him question their true intentions.
“Like I say, athletes at the highest level, you find little things to motivate you. I don’t know why it triggered me but it hit me in a way where I was like, I love that little boy. I play with him all the time and the whole time, you start getting paranoid. I’m like, ‘The whole time y’all were plotting to take my title, take food away from me’.”
Emotion Released After the Fight
The tension was palpable during the staredowns leading up to UFC 258. Both Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns understood it was a professional necessity, but the deep personal connection added immense emotional weight. Only one could emerge as the champion.
Usman weathered an early storm in the fight and ultimately stopped Burns in the third round to successfully defend his title. Immediately after securing the victory, the raw emotion of the situation poured out.
“Once the fight took place, it didn’t hit me until right at the end of the fight. I’m being animated and I’m up and I’m up and then, out the side of my eye, I see Gilbert down here and then I see my coach, Trevor, saying, ‘Yeah, fight’s over’. “I see him and it hit me like, ‘Bro, that’s my boy. That’s my friend.’ I just got crushed.”
Gareth Pendleton