On a recent episode of their podcast Pound 4 Pound, UFC icons Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo took aim at the quality of match cards since the promotion’s transition into the Paramount era.
Usman talked about it when reflecting on his decision to fly nearly seven hours to attend UFC Seattle in person.
“Nowadays, since we’ve been into the new Paramount era, like let’s be honest, a lot of fans and even us have looked at some of these cards and go, ‘Ah, they’re a little lackluster. They’re not really building cards anymore, and not blockbuster and all of these situations,'” Usman said.
Despite that criticism, Usman made it clear that the Seattle event earned his respect. He pointed to the energy in the arena and the UFC’s decision to feature local talent as key factors behind the card’s success.
“I got there to Seattle. I was there for the weigh-ins and it was quite a few people there,” he said. “I’m like, ‘Wow, okay, there’s some people here for the weigh-ins.'”
Usman went on to praise the matchmaking team for how they structured the lineup, emphasizing the importance of regional representation.
“And I think the UFC did well, not just the staff. Sean Mick, Hunter, I think they did a phenomenal job here of the placements of these cards, these matches,” he said. “I mean to have Michael Chiesa who is from Washington, to have Terrance ‘T.Wrecks’ McKinney who is from Washington. There was a couple other guys on there that was from Washington, and the Washington fans were there. They were loud. They were excited, to where I was sitting and it was sold out. I mean not fake sold out, like real sold out.”
Cejudo agreed with the criticism of the current era, but he framed the issue around changing expectations for athletes. In his view, success today requires more than just winning match.
“Especially now we’re coming into Paramount. Like think about it, Kamaru,” Cejudo said. “The era is changing, bro. Like, could you bring the game with the theatrics? Could you compete and could you promote? Because as we’re noticing now, these are the guys that are actually legit getting these opportunities.”
By the end of the discussion, both hosts landed on the same conclusion: while many recent cards may feel underwhelming, the Seattle event proved that strong matchmaking and an engaged local fan base can still deliver a memorable night.
“Phenomenal card, and I think that coupled with the energy of the Seattle fans was phenomenal,” Usman said. “From that first one on that main card all the way to the headliner was phenomenal.”
