The Kamaru Usman 2024 welterweight title shot train continues to gain speed.

Depending on who you ask, the “Nigerian Nightmare” is the greatest welterweight of all-time. Okay, that’s admittedly mostly just if you ask UFC CEO Dana White. Regardless, Usman is one of the best to ever do it at 170 pounds, and the former champion still believes he can show he’s competing at an elite level.

The new champion Belal Muhammad has teased interest in facing Usman for his first defense. However, that concept has received backlash from the community thanks to Usman’s recent string of three losses (20-4) that began when he dropped the title to Leon Edwards in 2022. For longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan, none of that matters. Especially considering the savior role that Usman played in his last fight, a short-notice debut at middleweight against Khamzat Chimaev.

“I think they give him Kamaru, that’s the big money fight, it’s the smart fight," Rogan said on his Joe Rogan Experience podcast. "They owe Kamaru for Kamaru taking Khamzat on 10 days’ notice. Also, a three-rounder instead of a five-rounder when he won the third. So, he’s got the L, but maybe if he goes five rounds, maybe he doesn’t get the L. It looked to me like he was coming on in the third. He had to figure him out, and also he had to trust his gas tank. The guy trained 10 days for one of the scariest motherf*ckers on Earth. On Earth. I say you gotta give it to Kamaru, because I think Kamaru earned it from that alone.”

Chimaev defeated Usman via a majority decision in their bout at UFC 294 last October. Neither has fought since, but Chimaev’s scheduled to return next month while Usman awaits his next move, which he’s publicly said he hopes is a shot at Muhammad.

The top contender in most fans’ eyes is the undefeated 18-0 Shavkat Rakhmonov, who has also hurled verbal jabs Muhammad’s way. Rogan likes that matchup as well, he just sees time as more in “The Nomad’s” favor than Usman’s.

“You don’t have many more years of Kamaru now, he’s like 37 now,” Rogan said. “I say give him another shot. Shavkat, every win he’s a legend. Bigger and bigger legend. Give it to Kamaru.”

Whoever Muhammad defends against first, he’ll continue to battle against the odds after upsetting Edwards by unanimous decision at UFC 304 in July. Muhammad, 36, has gone unbeaten in 11 consecutive fights (24-3, 1 NC) and still has work to do before he fully captures belief from the MMA world, believes Rogan.

“Belal doesn’t get nearly the respect he deserves,” Rogan said. “The way he put it on Leon Edwards, how the f*ck do you not give that guy all the props? All the flowers. He stopped Sean [Brady] standing up. When you see what he did to Leon, you’re like, ‘Good lord.’ Just overwhelmed him. Overwhelming pressure. On the feet, too. On the feet, f*cking dangerous. Never lets you get set. Always on the back foot.”

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TOP STORIES

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Options. Kevin Lee says he offered to fight on Dana White’s Contender Series for a shot at UFC return

Unimpressed. Norma Dumont goes scorched earth on Raquel Pennington vs. Julianna Pena title fight: ‘It’s going to be hard to watch’

Brian Ortega discusses falling off UFC 303, finishing story with Diego Lopes at UFC 306

Numbers. Bellator San Diego fight night weights: Usman Nurmagomedov, Alexander Shabliy both pack on nearly 20 pounds

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LET’S WATCH

UFC 306 Pre-Fight Presser and Staredowns.

Between the Links.

Embedded 4.

Champ life.

Unforgettable KOs.

Full fights

Fancy UFC 306 preview.

Aspinall swims.

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MORNING MUSIC

Go to Twitter, use the #MorningReport hashtag, or find one of my tweets with it, and drop me a jam you’re currently really into. I’ll pick the best one alongside my daily choice and give you a shoutout! You can also share in the comments below — those are just harder to sift through sometimes!

This month’s full playlist:

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SOCIAL SCROLL DOWN

Pinata time.

Choices, indeed.

Noche ready.

Cookin’.

Giddyup.

Mo-Town techniques.

Time.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Nora Cornolle (8-1) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (7-1); UFC Paris, Sept. 28

Kennedy Nzechukwu (12-5) vs. Justin Tafa (7-4); UFC 308, Oct. 26

Mickey Gall (7-6) vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (10-5); UFC 309, Nov. 16

Navajo Stirling (5-0) vs. Tuco Tokkos (10-4); UFC Tampa, Dec. 14

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Happy Friday, everybody. Another week in the books with a big weekend ahead. I hope everyone has a great and safe time regardless of the shenanigans you get up to. Cheers, and thanks as always for reading.

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EXIT POLL

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If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @DrakeRiggs_ on Twitter and let him know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Instagram and like us on Facebook.