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Kamaru Usman is a former titleholder in the UFC welterweight division. He was the promotion's first-ever African-born champion and was once enthroned as the sport's number-one P4P fighter. Unfortunately, a pair of losses to the same fighter has changed the trajectory of his career forever.
At UFC 278, he conceded the first takedown of his career against Leon Edwards. Despite losing the first round, he turned things around in the second round before winning the next two. To his misfortune, the fifth round ended with him lying on the canvas after being knocked unconscious by his foe's head kick.
Their trilogy bout at UFC 286 ended with another 'Rocky' victory, this time due to a majority decision from the judges. Despite not getting finished, Usman looked slower and older than usual. While he's been as successful as nearly any 170er in UFC history, perhaps it's time for him to look at his hinted move to middleweight.
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#5. The welterweight weight cut will only get harder as he ages
Kamaru Usman is a massive welterweight. The amount of weight he cuts to fight in the 170 lbs weight class borders on improbability. While it renders him one of the strongest and most physically imposing 170ers on the roster due to his size advantage, it does come at some cost.
The former divisional kingpin isn't chinny by any means, but he doesn't have the best chin in the world. The amount of weight he cuts negatively impacts how well his brain rehydrates prior to fight night. This is what has allowed a fighter as pillow-fisted as Colby Covington to stun him numerous times during their bouts.
Furthermore, as Usman ages, the weight cut will become harder. With his 36th birthday a few months away, it is something worth considering. One of Deiveson Figueiredo's struggles as a flyweight stems from his weight cut. The Brazilian has cut too much weight and it's grown harder the more he has aged.
This forced him to focus more on cutting weight during his training camps and kept him from spending enough time training to improve as a fighter. He has stagnated and so might Usman. A trip to the middleweight division, however, could remedy that.
#4. There are very few exciting matchups at welterweight for Kamaru Usman
With the exception of a potential clash with undefeated sensation Shavkat Rakhmonov or a trilogy bout with Colby Covington if he defeats Leon Edwards, there will be no fresh matchups for Kamaru Usman at 170 lbs that fans are interested in. No one is clamoring to see him face Belal Muhammad.
Similarly, hardly anyone cares about him fighting an aging Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson or anyone as low-ranked as Sean Brady. The former champion has already beaten the likes of Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns.
Even his rivalry with 'Chaos' is undercut by the fact that they have fought twice already, with Kamaru Usman winning each time. So while the UFC would certainly schedule a title fight between the two if Covington beats Edwards, it's not as compelling as other potential matchups at middleweight.
#3. Kamaru Usman could face Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight
Ever since Khamzat Chimaev's disastrous weight cut at the UFC 279 weigh-ins, there have been resounding calls for him to commit to a move to 185 lbs. It was a sensible take given that UFC 279 was a showcase event for him, with Nate Diaz handpicked as the most beatable opponent he could have hoped for.
Thus, a potential clash between him and Kamaru Usman might only be possible at middleweight. The unbeaten Chechen phenom has challenged 'The Nigerian Nightmare' in the past. Even prior to UFC 286, 'Borz' warned both him and Leon Edwards that he would soon claim the divisional throne.
He further referred to them as clowns. Last year, he issued a public challenge to the former champion after his own win against an opponent they have in common: Gilbert Burns. While Africa's first-ever champion never took on the challenge, there's no reason it can't happen at 185 lbs now that he's no longer a titleholder.
#2. A grudge match with Dricus du Plessis awaits him
During the leadup to Kamaru Usman's first-ever UFC title bout against Tyron Woodley, much was said about the possibility of 'The Nigerian Nightmare' becoming the promotion's first African champion. At the time, his opponent took exception to the claims by asserting his own African heritage.
Since then, his status as Africa's first-ever UFC champion has been largely uncontested as Israel Adesanya and Francis Ngannou have followed in his footsteps. That was until recently, however. South African dynamo Dricus du Plessis has challenged the claim.
He cites that Kamaru Usman—who has lived in the United States since he was eight—is American, while stating that Israel Adesanya and Francis Ngannou won titles for New Zealand and France as opposed to doing so for Nigeria and Cameroon. Du Plessis contrasted this with his own life.
He was born in South Africa, lives in South Africa, and trains in South Africa. His family is South African as well, but Usman took exception to du Plessis being white. This led to one of his teammates mocking Usman on social media. Due to this beef, it's an easy matchup to market for Usman's first 185 lbs bout.
#1. Kamaru Usman could face Alex Pereira
At one point in time, Kamaru Usman spoke openly about his belief in being able to capture the title at 205 lbs. While the thought of a welterweight doing well in the light heavyweight division might seem ludicrous, it has happened before. The late great Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson was once a 170er.
But there's a clear difference between him and 'The Nigerian Nightmare'. Thus, even UFC president Dana White was dismissive of the idea. But the former welterweight champion's reasoning for wanting a title shot at 205 lbs was to avoid fighting friend and fellow African Israel Adesanya for the latter's then 185 lbs title.
'The Last Stylebender' is currently booked to face Alex Pereira at UFC 287. If he loses to 'Poatan' again, why not allow another Nigerian to have a crack at the title? Especially a powerful wrestler who can test the Brazilian's grappling.
The UFC could build a storyline about a friend entering a new division to avenge his fellow countryman against his longtime nemesis.
