UFC: Kamaru Usman has open invitation to join Justin Gaethje’s Team Elevation
- Striking coach Sean Madden says ‘we can have that conversation’ if welterweight champ wants permanent switch from Sanford MMA
- Usman training with Gaethje’s head coach Trevor Wittman for UFC 258 main event vs teammate Gilbert Burns
Kamaru Usman has been training away from his usual Sanford MMA base in Florida as he prepares to defend his welterweight title against teammate Gilbert Burns in the UFC 258 main event on February 13.
“The Nigerian Nightmare” (17-1) is working with Justin Gaethje’s Elevation Fight Team, and the former UFC interim lightweight champ’s head coach Trevor Wittman, in Denver, Colorado.
It’s uncertain if 33-year-old Usman will return to working under Henri Hooft in Deerfield Beach after next weekend’s fight in Las Vegas, but Elevation striking coach Sean Madden has said he has an open invitation to make his stay at his new home permanent.
“So he’s been sparring with the team, and he’s been doing a couple of the other technical practises – wrestling and stuff – with the team,” Madden told SCMP MMA.
“He’s in that position where Trevor is his head coach, but he’s coming to train with the team a little bit too. It’s a little bit, I would describe, like a business relationship right now – he’s not necessarily on the team, but he gives back to the guys, he gives them knowledge. He’s a great guy to be around.
“We haven’t had the talk yet. If he wants to be on the team that’s great. If he doesn’t, that’s fine too. His fight is coming up so we just want him to have the resources he needs to be successful, and it’s a benefit for our guys to have him in the room.
