Mohammed Usman is counting his blessings.

The PFL heavyweight fighter is thankful the organization gave him the green light to compete outside of their promotion and fight for Titan FC while under contract. Usman (7-1 MMA, 0-0 PFL) signed with the promotion in March and just a month later, before the company’s planned 2020 season launch, the slate was canceled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Usman could have been left on the sidelines, like other PFL fighters, until the organization resumes operations, which is planned for April 2021. But instead, Usman was allowed to compete for his previous promotion.

“I’m officially with the PFL, but with the current situation, they allowed me to go fight for Titan FC,” Usman told MMA Junkie Radio. “I told them I needed to fight.”

After signing with PFL, Usman competed once in Titan FC, where he picked up a unanimous decision win over Terrance Hodges in August. It’s likely to go down as his only fight of 2020.

“The Motor” is allowed to fight again if he wanted to, but he feels is best to stay put for the remaining of the year.

“I’m allowed to fight again for Titan if I choose to, but at this point, now I’m really just training,” Usman explained. “I want to be the best version of myself in the cage. And you know, people look at it as a lot of things are bad. But sometimes it’s like, of course I want to fight. That’s why they allowed me to go fight for Titan. I just can’t go and fight for another organization at that high level – the name, you know.

“So I really appreciate them. They’ve done nothing but being supportive and understanding, and I’ve worked with them because I understand, too. There’s a lot of things that people don’t see that went into their decision not to have fights this year.”

Usman said he had several other avenues he could’ve gone prior to inking with PFL. Looking back, the 31-year-old heavyweight doesn’t regret signing the promotion despite the cancellation of the 2020 season.

“PFL offered me the best deal, and I know that people are like, ‘Man, you’re not fighting this year.’ But they still allowed me the chance to get better as a fighter by going to Titan,” Usman said. “They allowed me that chance to go fight, and they just offered me the best deal at the end of the day.

“The Contender Series was there. Everything was there. Every option was there. But the PFL, at the end of the day, offered me the best deal. And at the end of the day, I’m not going to do this forever. You want to make the right moves and position yourself in the right place. I want to compete at the highest level, so why not keep getting better and competing at the highest level while making a good living?”