Kamaru Usman recently shared a funny anecdote about his sparring sessions with Justin Gaethje, shedding light on their dynamic as training partners and close friends.
In a recent episode of Henry Cejudo and Usman’s Pound 4 Pound podcast, Gaethje discussed his approach as a training partner and reminisced about sparring with Usman.
Justin Gaethje tried to knock Kamaru Usman
However, Usman couldn’t help but chuckle at Gaethje’s description, revealing that Gaethje had indeed tried to knock him out during their sessions. Usman humorously recalled:
“He’s [Gaethje] the type that will hit me very very hard but then say, ‘Oh no, you tried to smoke me, man. You tried to hit me. I’m like, ‘Bro, no. What are you talking about?’…Bro, you tried to knock me out, what are you talking about? We have video footage of these interactions.”
Despite the playful banter, Usman and Gaethje’s friendship and mutual respect are evident, as they share laughter while watching the footage. Their camaraderie underscores the importance of trust and rapport between sparring partners in fostering growth and improvement.
In another instance, Usman recounted an awkward encounter he had with Charles Oliveira, highlighting the unique dynamics of the MMA community.
The guys have gone at it in practice 😂 pic.twitter.com/Hd49KWgjk1
— Pound 4 Pound (@pound4poundshow) April 12, 2024
During the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman explained that the awkwardness stemmed from Oliveira fighting Gaethje, Usman’s close friend and training partner, rather than any personal animosity towards Oliveira. Usman humorously remarked:
“That was when he fought Justin Gaethje. And a little bit of that energy was because he was fighting my brother. I ain’t wanna dap him up, but yeah…I ain’t want to. I did not want to. He was fighting my brother Justin so I did not want to cause my brother to go to war, we all go to war.”
Usman’s lighthearted recounting of these interactions offers a look at the camaraderie and complexities within the MMA community, where friendships and rivalries often intertwine in unexpected ways.
