Kamaru Usman shoved rival Colby Covington during their heated staredown ahead of their title fight at UFC 268 this weekend
Usman will make the fifth defence of his welterweight title in a grudge rematch against Covington in New York.
The two men came face-to-face on stage after their heated press conference on Friday, with UFC president Dana White unable to intervene as Usman shoved his rival.
Usman said he appreciates what Covington brings to the cage and also appreciates his trash talk, even if does sometimes cross the line.
"I appreciate everything he does and everything he comes with. I love it because it's another challenge for me to get over," he said.
"I wouldn't say it's the most difficult matchup. I would say that he is very very talented. I give him props. He works hard and he comes to fight each and every time.
"But like I've said before, in the era he existed he has to live with the fact that somebody was there that was better."
Usman and his manager Ali Abdelaziz have also expressed interest in a crossover fight against boxing's pound-for-pound No.1 Canelo Alvarez in the future.
Alvarez looks to become the first-ever undisputed super-middleweight champion when he fights Caleb Plant this weekend.
Crossover fights have become a regular occurance since UFC star Conor McGregor boxed Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
But Usman thinks a crossover between two fighters in their prime has never happened.
"This is what intrigues me is, I'm getting bored of running through these loudmouths up here. I'm getting bored," he said of a fight with Alvarez.
"So you know what, I said pound-for-pound in both sports promoted by the pound-for-pound best promoter in the world Dana White, why not?"
Who wins in the main event of UFC 268, Usman or Covington? Let us know in the comments section below
Usman has defended his title by knocking out Gilbert Burns and beating Jorge Masvidal twice since stopping Covington in 2019.
And Covington claimed Usman turned down their second fight to pursue a matchup against fan favourite Nate Diaz.
"He aborted this rematch at all costs. Uncle Dana and the UFC had to force his hand. He was trying to fight other lightweights," he said.
"He was trying to fight Nate Diaz. He was trying to fight anybody but this rematch, he knows who daddy is. He knows who really won that fight.
"If he didn't fake time-outs the first fight I would have destroyed him. It's ok, I'm back better late than never. I don't live in the past and Saturday night, I'm smashing Marty 'Fakenewsman'."
