UFC: Kamaru Usman has open invitation to join Justin Gaethje’s Team Elevation
- Striking coach Sean Madden says ‘we can have that conversation’ if welterweight champ wants permanent switch from Sanford MMA
- Usman training with Gaethje’s head coach Trevor Wittman for UFC 258 main event vs teammate Gilbert Burns
Kamaru Usman has been training away from his usual Sanford MMA base in Florida as he prepares to defend his welterweight title against teammate Gilbert Burns in the UFC 258 main event on February 13.
“The Nigerian Nightmare” (17-1) is working with Justin Gaethje’s Elevation Fight Team, and the former UFC interim lightweight champ’s head coach Trevor Wittman, in Denver, Colorado.
It’s uncertain if 33-year-old Usman will return to working under Henri Hooft in Deerfield Beach after next weekend’s fight in Las Vegas, but Elevation striking coach Sean Madden has said he has an open invitation to make his stay at his new home permanent.
“So he’s been sparring with the team, and he’s been doing a couple of the other technical practises – wrestling and stuff – with the team,” Madden told SCMP MMA.
“He’s in that position where Trevor is his head coach, but he’s coming to train with the team a little bit too. It’s a little bit, I would describe, like a business relationship right now – he’s not necessarily on the team, but he gives back to the guys, he gives them knowledge. He’s a great guy to be around.
“We haven’t had the talk yet. If he wants to be on the team that’s great. If he doesn’t, that’s fine too. His fight is coming up so we just want him to have the resources he needs to be successful, and it’s a benefit for our guys to have him in the room.
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“It’s a win-win to have a dominant UFC champion training on the mats with us. If he is interested in joining the team and being a part of it, we can have that conversation, but there’s no pressure either.”
Nigerian-American Usman is on an 16-fight win streak and undefeated in the UFC, making his second successful defence with a dominant unanimous decision over Jorge Masvidal (35-14) on Fight Island last July.
But with Dutchman Hooft stepping aside from coaching either man for his fight against 34-year-old Brazilian “Durinho” Burns (19-3), Usman turned to his Dominance MMA Management stablemate Gaethje for help.
“Gaethje is in a little bit of a different situation, because he’s all about Team Elevation,” Madden added. “He’s cornered some of our lower level guys in LFA, he’ll fly out on his own dime. He’s always giving great feedback.
“He’s hanging out with them outside of practice – last summer, he took the whole team paintballing just for a team bonding thing.
“I know it’s confusing when people see Gaethje, they see Usman, they see Trevor, and they’re like, ‘Wait a minute, Justin’s with Elevation but Usman’s not, Trevors not a coach at Elevation but these guys are’.
“You probably need a chalkboard to draw all these lines towards everyone, but we make it work and the proof is in the pudding. Winning Gym of the Year last year, we’re doing some thing right. It’s confusing but we’re making it work.”
