Categories: MMA

Morning Report: Joe Rogan wants to see Kamaru Usman box Canelo Alvarez: ‘I think it would be invaluable experience for him’

For several months now, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has been talking about a potential crossover boxing match against Canelo Alvarez. Usman vs. Canelo, as the best pound-for-pound boxers in their respective sport, would be a unique event that Joe Rogan, UFC commentator, would love to watch.

“I would like to see him fight Canelo, I really would,” Rogan said on the Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast. He’s not a favourite in boxing against the best boxers ever, but I would love to see him make a huge payday. In the same manner, I’d like to see Ngannou face Tyson Fury. That’s a way you can make a s***-load of money, and I don’t think it damages his potential as a UFC fighter. It would have been a great experience as a champion if he had that fight, and then he switched to MMA. I think he’d probably be even better as a striker if he gets through it relatively undamaged, even if he loses.”

Usman first floated the idea of a fight with Canelo last year as he was preparing for his rematch with Colby Covington, saying he wanted to see the contenders actually step up and make him excited. Usman has continued to press the narrative and though Canelo was initially against the idea, he has since come around to it, saying he wouldn’t rule out the matchup. UFC President Dana White called it “a stupid fight that doesn’t make sense”, stating that Usman isn’t a boxer, and Canelo the greatest boxer in the country. But though it’s hard to argue with those two points, Rogan believes that Usman could potentially surprise some people, through sheer will power alone.

“He will feel pain,” Rogan stated. It’s not the same sports, but Rogan is a man who knows how to win. This guy is a complete mess. His knees have been broken. He just doesn’t run, but he never runs out of cardio. He drives everything he does. All the plyometrics and all the strength and conditioning stuff he does in the gym, he’s doing it with f***** up knees. All the wrestling drills, he’s doing it with f***** up knees.”

Usman last fought at UFC 268, winning a unanimous decision in his rematch with Colby Covington. Later this year, he will defend his title against Leon Edwards. Canelo recently unites all super middleweight belts, knocking out Caleb Planet in November. This was also the night Usman beat Covington. In May, he will defend his WBA title as light heavyweight against Dmitry Bivol.


TOP STORIES

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Feud. Cris Cyborg reacts to Kayla Harrison’s ’emotional’ callout for a gym fight, re-signing with PFL.

Trying. Michael Chandler still considers himself ‘perfect guy’ to welcome Conor McGregor back: ‘The timing works out’.


VIDEO STEW

PFL 1 Highlights.

Kayla Harrison preparing for PFL 2022.

Top finishes from UFC Vegas 52 fighters.

John Fury announcing he will be there to win Tom Aspinall’s UFC championship.

Francis Ngannou and another interim title.


SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Reaction.

Winner.

Whittaker.

Paulo Costa stepping up.

Still going.

And then there are others who chase that money.

Can’t stop, won’t stop.


FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Jailton Almeida (15-2) vs. Parker Porter (13-6); UFC Vegas 55, May 21.


FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading!


EXIT POLL


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

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