UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has distanced himself from squaring up with fellow Nigerian Israel Adesanya but desires an upgrade to the middleweight division.

Usman who recently defeated Gilbert Burns 34 seconds into the third round at UFC 258 – taking his record to 18-1, defending his title for the third time said his move up to the 185 pounds category depends on Adesanya upgrade from the middleweight category.

“‘Absolutely, absolutely. If Izzy’s willing to move up – well he is moving up, but if he’s willing to give up that 185 belt and says “I have nothing to do with that anymore”, then absolutely I would entertain that thought,” he told ESPN.

“On no account right now would I ever entertain going up to fight Izzy. That’s just not something that I’m interested in.”

“I’ve stated over and over before, I’d rather two Africans with belts as opposed to one African with two belts.

“After March, it’s gonna be three Africans with four belts. It’s a good time to be an African.”