UFC 294 fans fear Kamaru Usman has suffered injury just days before Khamzat Chimaev fight
MMA fans are convinced Kamaru Usman has suffered an injury just days before his showdown with Khamzat Chimaev.
The former long-reigning welterweight champion locks horns with the undefeated Russian on Saturday night in the main event of UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi.
The Nigerian Nightmare took part in an open workout on Wednesday evening ahead of the mouthwatering dust-up.
And fans are convinced he tweaked his left knee while he took down team-mate Justin Gaethje as they went through the motions.
Several fans claimed former interim UFC lightweight champ Gaethje asked Usman: “Are you alright?”
Usman then seemingly said: “No, something popped.”
Footage of the exchange went viral and had MMA fans around the world fearing the worst, with one writing on X: “Look at Justin’s face, he is worried.”
Another said: “Please, not like this.”
And another said: “Started limping immediately too.”
One remarked: “Man, not looking good.”
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Another chimed in: “Yikes. Heard that too. Place your bets.”
One stunned fight fan said: “Looks like his left knee, seems like he was shaking it out afterwards.”
It didn’t take long for the clip to come to the attention of fan favourite Gaethje, who dismissed the notion of his team-mate informing him he was crocked.
Gaethje wrote: “He said I’m good or something like that. I thought he hit his head on the mat.
“I asked him if he hit his head in this clip when we got up and he said no.”
Former pound-for-pound king Usman also addressed the fears, saying on his YouTube channel: “How stupid. Just dumb.
“If my knee was hurt, why would I get up and [continue] hitting mitts.
“People believe anything you put on the internet. Anything. Any f***ing thing. Clearly I’m fine, dummies.”
Usman’s clash with Chechen clubber Chimaev will mark his middleweight debut, which, if he’s victorious in, will bag him a title shot.