Kamaru Usman wants to challenge Islam Makhachev, but the UFC has other ideas.
The UFC welterweight legend has been staking his claim for the first shot at Makhachev ever since the Dagestani unseated Jack Della Maddalena last November.
Makhachev’s preference is a defense against Usman, but it does not appear that Hunter Campbell and the UFC matchmakers are on board.
Evidence of that recently emerged courtesy of ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ himself, as he revealed the promotion’s offer to face Dricus du Plessis instead.
Does Kamaru Usman deserve to fight Islam Makhachev after everything he’s accomplished?
How do you feel about the former champ potentially getting a title shot? Let us know in the comments.
Kamaru Usman reveals UFC’s offer to fight Dricus du Plessis at 185 pounds
Usman disclosed the UFC’s offer to face former middleweight champ Du Plessis during the latest episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside Henry Cejudo.
The 38-year-old briefly delved into the conversations he has had with the UFC, admitting he has struggled to secure his desired shot at regaining the welterweight crown.
After Usman gave Khamzat Chimaev a tough test at 185 pounds on short notice in 2023, it seems the promotion is keen to see the veteran return to the heavier weight class.
“When I say I can still do this at the high level, I mean that. For some reason, we’ve had conversations, and Hunter Campbell feels differently,” Usman said.
“They haven’t come out and said, ‘Okay, Islam is going to get this guy,’ or Islam is going to get me. But it has been a tumultuous journey with trying to get that done.
“Other things were presented to me…DDP was presented to me,” he continued. “Henry, there’s one thing about me, and you know, when they call…I say yes.
“Potentially (moving to middleweight), but this is the thing with me, it has to be meaningful. I am not just here to fight the fight.
“If it gets me to the title that I want, that is what I want.”
Why Kamaru Usman moving to middleweight would make sense
On paper, it may not be logical for Usman to switch divisions while believing he deserves a welterweight title shot. In actual fact, it might be just what he needs.
Makhachev is not short on contenders, some of whom fans are putting above Usman when it comes to who they would like to see challenge the Dagestani.
Ian Machado Garry, Michael Morales, and Carlos Prates are all coming off standout victories late last year, and recent reports have suggested that the Irish welterweight is the frontrunner.
With that in mind, and given the queue that could form behind Garry, Usman’s path back to UFC gold could lie in the middleweight division.
The race to challenge Chimaev should he stay at 185 pounds is not exactly littered with top contenders. To prove as much, it took Sean Strickland just one win since failing to take the title from Du Plessis to get back in the mix.
Given how well he performed against ‘Borz’, Usman could be just one win away from cementing himself as the most intriguing option for a Chimaev title defense.
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