Mohammed Usman admits he was caught off guard when the PFL reached out to his team about joining the roster for the 2020 season.
Usman (6-1 MMA) said the promotion wasn’t initially part of his next-fight discussions after picking up a 48-second knockout win under the Titan FC banner in December. There were a number of top-tier organizations potentially vying for his services, but PFL came in with an offer he couldn’t resist.
“We looked at all our options and everywhere we could to take the next step,” Usman told MMA Junkie. “PFL really just came out of nowhere and it was a really great deal, so we had to take it. Bellator’s always been there for me, but we also had ONE (Championship) and the UFC. At this point in my career it just made sense to go to the PFL.”
Although the PFL’s most valuable attraction is the $1 million prize awarded to the annual champion in each weight class, the financial upside wasn’t the only thing that lured Usman. The unique format of putting fighters through a regular season, playoffs and championship round could mean five fights in a year for Usman, and that’s just what he needs going into his fourth year as a pro.
At 30, Usman can build up crucial experience as he tries to maximize his potential.
“It’s really mental,” Usman said. “You’ve got to really be able to use your mind in certain fights to the point where you can’t just go in there and have a complete, all-out brawl with a guy. You’ve got another fight coming right up. It really makes you think for yourself.”
If Usman can make the most of his PFL opportunity, he could win $1 million and build a legacy separate from his brother, UFC welterweight titleholder Kamaru Usman. And with PFL as an ESPN broadcast partner, he can do it on a stage with a heavy reach in MMA.
“I really, really like the platform PFL is designed on,” Usman said. “We’re on the same platform as the UFC with the fights on ESPN. Then of course, the money. It’s always good when organization shows they believe in you and PFL showed how much they believe in me. That’s a testament to what they’re trying to do.”
Usman is expected to make his PFL debut in the opening weeks of the 2020 season, which begins in May.
Mohammed Usman: Signing with PFL 'made sense' over UFC, Bellator and ONE
