Joe Rogan doesn’t think UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has much to lose in a potential boxing match with Canelo Alvarez.
Usman (20-1 MMA, 15-0 UFC) has expressed his desire to box Alvarez on numerous occasions in recent months. UFC president Dana White has subsequently shut down the idea, noting that he thinks it would go badly for “The Nigerian Nightmare.”
UFC commentator, comedian and podcast host Rogan, however, sees the upside for Usman. He wants to see Usman make a big paycheck and thinks preparing for and fighting a world champion boxer would only benefit his overall ability as a combat sports athlete.
“I would like to see him fight Canelo. I really would,” Rogan said on a recent episode of “Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson.” “Not because I think that he’s a favorite in a boxing match against one of the greatest boxers of all time, but I want to see him get a giant payday. The same way I would like to see (Francis) Ngannou fight Tyson Fury.
“That’s a way you can make a sh*t load of money, and I don’t think it damages his potential as a UFC fighter. I think it would be invaluable experience for him as a champion if he did have that fight and then came back over to MMA. I think he’d probably be even better as a striker if he gets through it relatively undamaged, even if he loses.”
Both Usman and Alvarez are ranked No. 1 pound-for-pound in their respective sports, and although Rogan acknowledges that it wouldn’t be an easy task for Usman, whose manager Ali Abdelaziz has predicted he would knock out the “coward” Mexican inside three rounds, he wouldn’t entirely count him out.
“He’s gonna feel some pain,” Rogan said. “It’s not the same sport, but he’s a dude that knows how to win. You have to understand this guy’s mindset. His knees are destroyed. His knees are fcked, but he doesn’t care. He just doesn’t run, but he never runs out of cardio. Everything he does is just drive. It’s all plyometrics and all the strength and conditioning sht he does in the gym. He’s doing it with fcked-up knees. All the wrestling drills, he’s doing it with fcked-up knees.”
Usman is next expected to rematch Leon Edwards in summer, where he’ll look to notch his sixth title defense. In his most recent outing, Usman bested Colby Covington at UFC 268, outlasting his rival for a second time in another thrilling battle.
Strong dude.
“GUYS! HE HAS FUCKED UP KNEES! HE WOULD TOTALLY BEAT CANELO! MENTAL TOUGHNESS OVERCOMES GREAT TALENT!!!”
He’d get a good payday not a giant payday, Usman ain’t making many people pay $100 for PPV
These are stupid ideas. They think because Conor made a huge payday with Floyd that anyone can do it. They were both crossover stars. Usman and Francis are barely stars in their own game.
I’d rather watch Usman vs Chimaev
Boxing Floyd ruined Conors aura for me. He looked amateur. Maybe it didn’t change anything for him financially but his image was tarnished for me after that disaster.