Kamaru Usman hints at UFC return, Michel Pereira labeled a hypocrite, Curtis Blaydes expects Tom Aspinall bout to be for real title: MMA News Roundup

Kamaru Usman hints at a UFC return, Michel Pereira is called out by a middleweight contender and Curtis Blaydes believes a UFC 304 bout against Tom Aspinall will be for the official heavyweight title.

Find out more details in today's (May 18) Sportskeeda daily news roundup.

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#3 Kamaru Usman hints at welterweight return following Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad announcement

Kamaru Usman is seemingly ready to return to the welterweight division.

Earlier this week, Dana White confirmed that Leon Edwards will defend his welterweight title against Belal Muhammad in the main event of UFC 304 in Manchester, England.

Discussing the bout on a recent episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman revealed it has motivated him to get back into the octagon. He said:

"I'm excited. About time, about time. Now we have some sort of clarity in that welterweight division and I think it can move again. And the king may return, you know."

Catch Kamaru Usman's comments here (8:24):

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#2 Shara Magomedov calls out Michel Pereira in wake of latter's dog rescue

Undefeated middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov has revealed he isn't impressed with Michel Pereira's recent charity work.

The Brazilian has been back in his native country offering help and aid to those affected by a devastating flood. Pereira was also recently filmed saving a dog that had been stranded due to the wreckage.

Taking to Instagram to call out 'Demolidor', 'Shara Bullet' labeled him a 'hypocrite' due to Pereira walking out at UFC 301 with an Israeli flag. Magomedov, who is a Russian-born muslim, believes it was wrong of Pereira to support the country amidst the Israel-Hamas war.

Translated to English, he wrote:

"While this hypocrite is saving dogs in Brazil from a flood a thousand children are lying under bombs at the hands of child killers, and at the time he came out with the flag of this country and shouted to the whole world and supported them. Sooner or later I will get to him InshAllah, and then this merry fellow will not have so much fun."

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#1 Curtis Blaydes expects UFC 304 interim heavyweight title bout against Tom Aspinall to be for "the real belt"

Curtis Blaydes doesn't believe Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight title again after he faces Stipe Miocic.

'Bones' has been recovering from a torn pectoral injury he suffered last year which ruled him out of a UFC 295 bout against Miocic. Despite Aspinall picking up the interim heavyweight title in his absence, Jones has reiterated that he only wants to face Miocic next.

Aspinall vs. Blaydes was then confirmed by Dana White this week to be taking place at UFC 304 as the co-main event.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Blaydes gave his thoughts on the fight and stated that he is confident their clash will in fact be for the "real" title, as he doesn't see Jones defending the belt again. 'Razor' said:

"If I win or if Aspinall wins, I don’t think Jon’s going to fight anyone outside of Stipe...That’s how I’m viewing it [as an undisputed title fight]. They [fans] probably don’t understand the concept of interim vs. undisputed, and they don’t care. All they see is a shiny belt and you holding it in a UFC octagon. That’s all they need. So, to me, it is the real belt."

Catch Blaydes' comments here: