Veteran Welterweight Contender Reaches Impasse with UFC Over Next Bout

Kamaru Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) has spent more time out of the fabled Octagon than in it in recent years. After dropping a majority decision to Khamzat Chimaev (15-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) in October of 2023 at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, he was out of action for more than a year and a half.

A June appearance in UFC Atlanta resulted in “The Nigerian Nightmare” winning by way of unanimous decision to Joaquin Buckley (21-7 MMA, 11-5 UFC) after three rounds. Since then, Kamaru Usman has been waiting and wondering about when he might be able to get back inside the cage.

Usman has spent time advocating for a fight later on this year versus current UFC Welterweight Champion and No. 1 pound-for-pound contender Islam Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC.) Makhachev joined the 170-lb division’s roster after ceding the UFC Lightweight Championship last spring. 

Makhachev bested Jack Della Maddalena (18-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) by unanimous decision last November in New York City. Fans of Kamaru Usman may have a long wait, if at all, if they wish to see Usman and Makhachev square off.

Kamaru Usman Reveals Talks With UFC Over Potential Makhachev Fight Hit Snag

Kamaru Usman discussed the possibility of fighting Islam Makhachev on his Pound 4 Pound podcast with co-host Henry Cejudo Thursday.  Usman mentioned that his next moves are still unknown almost nine months removed from his Atlanta contest.

“The Islam fight was obviously what I wanted and what I felt would have been great,” Kamaru Usman began, “not just for me, not just for Islam, but would have been great for the company, would have been great for the world to see that.”

Usman also mentioned the fact that he’s able to back up the promises he makes his fans ahead of any fight.

“When I come out here and I tell you I’m going to go out there and do this and that, I do it,” he continued. “I’m not like some of these guys who go ‘Yes, I’m going to kill this guy. He won’t last one round’ and the fight is a boring three rounds, or ‘This guy, I’m going to finish him second round’ and the fight is a boring three rounds. I’m honest about that, so when I say I can still do this at that high level, I mean that.”

Hunter Campbell Pumps Brakes on Kamaru Usman vs. Islam Makhachev

During Usman’s comments, he said that there was one obstacle standing in the way between him fighting Islam Makhachev at a later date. It’s the biggest obstacle of all.

“For some reason, we’ve had conversations, but Hunter Campbell feels differently and Hunter Campbell is like ‘Maybe not,'” Usman mentioned. “He wants to go a different way. We don’t know yet. They haven’t come out and said ‘Islam is going to get this guy’ or ‘Islam is going to get that guy’ or ‘Islam’s going with me,’ but it’s been a tumultuous back and forth with getting that done.”

Final Thoughts: Hunter Campbell May be Making Right Call on Kamaru Usman

As of this writing, Usman is the No. 7 contender at welterweight. Although Kamaru Usman has won the UFC Welterweight Championship in the past, having him fight a man who’s eight slots above him might be a bit of a stretch.

Numerically speaking, he’s gone 2-3 in his last five fights and just stopped the skid late last spring in Atlanta. While an Usman vs. Makhachev fight might be appealing, given that Usman isn’t on a sustained winning streak like Makhachev, the contest loses some of its sparkle.

If Usman rattles off a few more wins, this is a main event with bulletin board material that practically writes itself.