"Look at a guy like LeBron James" - Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo disagree over first African champion narrative
Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo's unlikely friendship is part of what has made the Pound 4 Pound podcast so popular, but that has not made them immune to disagreements. After Dricus Du Plessis' title win at UFC 305 over Israel Adesanya, the two former champions engaged in arguably their most heated argument to date on the show.
Usman, who remains a close friend of Adesanya's, touched on the topic of debate between 'The Last Stylebender' and Du Plessis, one that circled who was the "real" African champion. The conversation moved toward Usman saying that African-Americans have a tougher life due to the darker color of their skin, though Cejudo disagreed, sparking their passionate debate.
Replying to Usman saying that people with a darker skin tone have a tougher life, Cejudo said:
"I'm gonna have to disagree with you... Not in America, man. I think that's all subjective. I mean, look at a guy like LeBron James."
The retort immediately upset Kamaru Usman, who claimed that he would be treated differently than 'Triple C' if both of them got pulled over by the same police officer.
Watch the full video from Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry on YouTube below:
Kamaru Usman tells Dricus Du Plessis to "be careful"
After the dust had settled in his debate with Henry Cejudo, Kamaru Usman tied the conversation back to the UFC 305 main event. Usman warned Dricus Du Plessis to "be careful" when walking the line of a racial debate.
Usman said:
"I understand it was a whole marketing thing for Dricus Du Plessis, which he might not have meant it the way that Israel might have taken it all the way, but you have to be careful because it's dangerous. You have to be careful with what you say because now we're in a position to influence the masses in the world."
After Du Plessis' fourth-round submission, the two former rivals put their differences aside and embraced each other in the Octagon. Adesanya went as far as calling himself a "fan" of Du Plessis in his post-fight interview, telling the middleweight champion to continue carrying the torch that he lit.