"These guys are f***ing monsters" - Dana White believes Kamaru Usman's wish to move up to light heavyweight is a "bad idea"

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Dana White (left) and Kamaru Usman (right) [Images courtesy of Getty and @usman84kg Instagram]

UFC president Dana White believes that Kamaru Usman shouldn’t move up to the light heavyweight division. Reigning UFC welterweight champion Usman has time and again expressed interest in attaining double-champ status by winning UFC gold in another weight class.

'The Nigerian Nightmare' is unlikely to move down in weight. Furthermore, the weight class above him is ruled by his close friend, UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

Usman recently hinted at wanting to capture the light heavyweight belt to become a two-weight UFC champion. Speaking to MMA Underground’s John Morgan, White addressed the same and advised 'The Nigerian Nightmare' against the idea.

The UFC president indicated that “monsters” like UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka, former champions Glover Teixeira and Jan Blachowicz, and top contender Magomed Ankalaev patrol the 205-pound waters:

“That’s crazy. Yeah. He’s never said that to me. But, I mean, when you look at those guys, you’re looking at [Jiri] Prochazka, Glover [Teixeira], Jan [Blachowicz], Magomed [Ankalaev]! I mean, these guys are f***ing monsters. Yeah, I think that’s a bad idea.”

Furthermore, White suggested that competing at middleweight too would probably be tough for Usman. Highlighting top-tier names such as reigning champion Israel Adesanya and former champion Robert Whittaker, White said:

“I mean, the guys at middleweight are big. I mean, when you start talking about [Jared] Cannonier, [Robert] Whittaker, [Marvin] Vettori, Israel [Adesanya], those are scary guys at that weight... [Alex] Pereira! Even [Derek] Brunson, you’ve got a guy like Brunson who can wrestle too."

Watch White discuss the topic at 1:48 in the video below:

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‘Big’ John McCarthy lauds Kamaru Usman’s fighting skills but forewarns against a move to light heavyweight

UFC welterweight kingpin Usman is scheduled to defend his title in a rematch against Leon Edwards at UFC 278 on August 20. Ahead of the highly anticipated showdown, many in the MMA community, including former MMA referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy, have addressed Usman’s light heavyweight title aspirations.

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In an edition of the Weighing In podcast earlier this year, John McCarthy praised Usman as a fighter. Nevertheless, the former UFC referee warned that moving up 35 pounds to go after the light heavyweight belt would be a miscalculation on his part. Advising Usman to focus on his welterweight title reign, McCarthy said:

“I don’t wanna see him [Kamaru Usman] do it. I like Kamaru Usman. I think Kamaru Usman’s a phenomenal fighter. I think 170 pounds is a great weight class for him, and 205 is too big.”

Watch McCarthy address the topic at 1:28:34 in the video below:

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