For several months now, UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has been talking about a potential crossover boxing match against Canelo Alvarez. As the top pound-for-pound fighters in their respective sports, Usman vs. Canelo would be an unprecedented event, and one that UFC commentator Joe Rogan would love to see.

“I would like to see him fight Canelo, I really would,” Rogan said on the Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast. “Not because I think that he’s a favorite in a boxing match against one of the greatest boxers of all-time, but I want to see him get a giant payday. The same way I would like to see [Francis] Ngannou fight 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. I think it would be invaluable experience for him, as a champion, if he did have that fight and then came back over 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. One man who did rule it out though is UFC President Dana White, who called the bout “a stupid fight that makes no sense” because Usman is not a boxer and Canelo is the best boxer in the world. 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’s gonna feel some pain,” Rogan said. “It’s not the same sport, but he’s a dude that knows how to win. You have to understand this guy’s mindset, his knees are destroyed... His knees are f***** but he doesn’t care. He just doesn’t run, but he never runs out of cardio. Everything he does is just drive. 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. He is next expected to defend his title against Leon Edwards later this year. Meanwhile, Canelo most recently unified all the super middleweight belts by knocking out Caleb Planet this past November (coincidentally on the same night Usman defeated Covington). He will next defend his WBA light heavyweight title against Dmitry Bivol in May.

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TOP STORIES

Results. Clay Collard pulls off another huge upset with brutal shutout of Jeremy Stephens at PFL 1.

NFTs. Nate Diaz: Don’t buy NFTs of Nick Diaz and I from ‘sorry ass UFC’.

Out. Robert Whittaker out of UFC 275; Marvin Vettori calls for fights against Darren Till or Khamzat Chimaev.

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’.

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VIDEO STEW

PFL 1 Highlights.

Kayla Harrison preparing for PFL 2022.

Top finishes from UFC Vegas 52 fighters.

John Fury saying he’ll be there to watch Tom Aspinall win the UFC title.

Francis Ngannou and another interim title.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Reaction.

Winner.

Whittaker.

Paulo Costa stepping up.

Still going.

And then others chasing that cash.

Can’t stop, won’t stop.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading!

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EXIT POLL

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