"Kamaru Usman hasn't done that" - John McCarthy explains why he thinks Georges St-Pierre has a superior legacy compared to the UFC welterweight champion
Former UFC referee 'Big' John McCarthy was very clear as to who he thinks has a superior legacy between current UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre.
On the latest episode of his podcast Weighing In, McCarthy and co-host Josh Thomson, were asked is they felt Kamaru Usman has a better legacy than GSP. John McCarthy responded by saying:
"No, he [Usman] does not have a better legacy. Dana is a promoter and is trying to promote the guy who is fighting for him right now and that's great, I don't have a problem with it. But if you look at it and say, 'Who has the bigger legacy?' it's still GSP to this point. GSP also went up and won the middleweight title, Kamaru Usman has not done that, he has a lot left to do."
John McCarthy was adamant and stated that it would be hard for Usman to follow up on GSP's success, especially considering the fact that Usman seems reluctant to fight at middleweight for the title like St-Pierre did.
▪️ Usman vs. St-Pierre GOAT debate
▪️ Best brother combo in MMA history?
▪️ #UFCVegas42 & #Bellator271 preview
▪️ Where should Jon Jones train?
Our panel hits those topics and more in a new #SpinningBackClique ⏪ mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2021/11/ufc-26…
Kamaru Usman has made five successful title defenses since winning the belt in March 2019. As of September this year, Usman has also reigned as the UFC's number one pound-for-pound fighter.
Watch the excerpt from WEIGHING IN below:
Kamaru Usman at 185 lbs?
Kamaru Usman has stated on many occasions in the past year that he has no interest in moving up to middleweight so long as the titleholder remains long-time friend, Israel Adesanya. Usman stated that it would take a big payday for them to meet in the octagon, claiming:
“If me and him decide we want to compete, and the UFC is throwing $100 million at us, then we’ll make it happen.”
Can you guess how much money it’ll take for Kamaru Usman vs. Israel Adesanya to happen? (by @Shak_Fu) mmamania.com/2021/11/4/2276…
Usman on not wanting to fight Adesanya for the middleweight title: "Two Nigerians with belts is more important to me than one Nigerian with two belts.” #UFC268
It is safe to say that until the middleweight title changes hands, Usman most likely won't be making that leap up a weight class like St-Pierre did. Israel Adesanya is slated to defend his title against Robert Whittaker in a rematch for the middleweight title in February of 2022.