Oleksandr Usyk's alleged prowess in judo, kickboxing, and other combat sports sparks UFC fantasy matchup ideas: "Beats Alex Pereira and Jon Jones"

Oleksandr Usyk has ignited a wave of speculation about his potential in MMA following comments about incorporating judo, kickboxing, and other martial arts into his training. Known for his technical brilliance in the boxing ring, Usyk revealed how these disciplines enhance his skillset, sparking UFC fantasy matchup discussions online.

Usyk's boxing achievements are nothing short of historic. After dominating the cruiserweight division and becoming the undisputed champion in 2018, he made a successful transition to heavyweight.

He won the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles by defeating Anthony Joshua, and he later defended them in a rematch. In May 2024, Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. He then beat Fury again in their rematch on Dec. 21.

Speaking in a behind-the-scenes interview with Mario Lopez, Usyk shared his perspective on blending martial arts techniques into boxing:

“It’s good. Our wrestling, our jiu-jitsu, Judo, sambo. Good mechanic. Your right hips. It’s good punch. Turn it over. Because a lot of people have only hands. I’m playing Judo, Kickboxing.”

Fans couldn’t resist imagining Usyk competing in the UFC. Social media buzzed with comments. One fan wrote:

"Usyk beats Pereira and Jon Jones”

Others debated his potential in MMA, with one suggesting:

“Not Jon but def would be cool to see him compete in MMA”

Check out some of the fan reactions below:

Fans react to Oleksandr Usyk's recent comment. [Screenshot courtesy; X]

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Francis Ngannou weighs in on Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 scorecard

Francis Ngannou has weighed in on the aftermath of Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch victory over Tyson Fury, offering a nuanced take on the fight and its controversial scoring. Ngannou, who recently ventured into professional boxing, acknowledged Usyk as the rightful winner but questioned the wide margin reflected in the AI-generated scorecard of 118-110.

Speaking with Pro Boxing Fans, Ngannou stated:

“I would have scored the fight closer than that. Maybe Usyk could have still won. I mean, at the end of the fight, it wasn’t sure that anybody [was a clear winner]. From my scorecard, it was closer than that.”

The former UFC heavyweight champion also voiced skepticism about the role of artificial intelligence in scoring boxing matches. He emphasized that boxing’s complexity requires human intuition and understanding, elements he believes AI cannot replicate:

"No no, AI might be intelligent but AI doesn't understand the sport properly. It's a man sport, not a machine sport. I think AI, regardless of everything, is still a machine that operates automatically and scores based on some [information]. I don't think AI has all the specific or the data to score a boxing match."

Check out Francis Ngannou's comments on Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 scorecard below: