“We talkin’ bout practice,” Usman told UFC.com. “It’s different when you step inside that cage. It’s a whole different savage, and he’s going to realize that.”
The “training partners turned foes” narrative has dominated the lead-up to their welterweight title fight at UFC 258. It’s understandable. For years, the two helped each other prepare for their fights as they made their way up the rankings, and when Burns originally earned a title shot last summer, it was Usman, the incumbent champion, who left South Florida for Colorado.
Watch Usman Go For Another Title Defense Saturday At UFC 258
There, he has taken to working with Trevor Wittman, the man in the corner of Justin Gaethje and Rose Namajunas. The two were successful in their first outing together as Usman defended his belt rather comfortably against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251, but the extra time since then has brought its share of benefits.