UFC On FOX 20: Kamaru Usman talks Blackzilian training tradition of ‘Meat Day’

Later today, UFC On FOX 20 will kick off in Chicago, Illinois. The unassuming card will present only 10 fights, as the original main event of Glover Teixeira vs. Anthony Johnson and the preliminary bout featuring George Sullivan vs. Hector Urbina have been scrapped.

What the UFC lost in quantity is more than made up for in quality, especially in the match-up between highly decorated NCAA wrestling standout, Kamaru Usman and the wily Russian veteran, Alexander Yakovlev. Usman has been successful in both his UFC bouts and was one of the winners of TUF 21 and Yakovlev has had a long, respectable career that seems to be on quite the upswing recently.

The Three Amigos Podcast sat down with Usman earlier this week to discuss a variety of topics in a lengthy interview. Part I of that interview can be read here, and the following transcript is the conclusion.

As far as the 2-year ban, it’s a sport where we’re literally fighting for our lives, our well-being, our family’s well-being, so if you have to cheat me out of being able to provide for my family’s well-being, then you should know that the consequences are steep, and this is what you’re going to get. We all know the rules, and we’re all meant to follow them.-Kamaru Usman

TAP: What are your thoughts on USADA’s impact on the way drug testing is conducted in the UFC, and do you think these career-altering 2 year bans are fair punishments for first-time offenders?

Usman: I think it’s great to have USADA come in and clean up the sport, because what I don’t want to do is train my butt off for 10 weeks to prepare for a fight for a limited amount of money to feed my family, then get out there with a guy that maybe put in 3 weeks training and cheated. I don’t want to be in there with a guy that has the edge on performing above his natural ability.

As far as the 2-year ban, it’s a sport where we’re literally fighting for our lives, our well-being, our family’s well-being, so if you have to cheat me out of being able to provide for my family’s well-being, then you should know that the consequences are steep, and this is what you’re going to get. We all know the rules, and we’re all meant to follow them.

If your supplements are accidentally tainted, and it’s proven to be so, then that 2-year sentence starts looking extremely harsh and excessive. I’d like to think they take these on a case-by case basis.

TAP: The UFC sale was big news over the last week. What do you think that sale means to you as an athlete?

Usman: I don’t know. It’s tough to wrap my head around it. I’m guessing that …

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