Surprise former title challenger welcomes Kamaru Usman clash

Kamaru Usman will be forced to fight his way back into title contention after coming up short in his trilogy clash against Leon Edwards at UFC 286. It now seems like a former title challenger is open to a fight with Usman.

'The Nigerian Nightmare' hasn't fought a non-title fight since his one-sided win against Rafael dos Anjos all the way back in 2018. Since then, the wrestler has managed to beat some of the best-ever athletes in the division, cementing himself as one of the greatest in recent history.

After losing the title and subsequent trilogy against Leon Edwards, Kamaru Usman announced that he is still hungry to compete and will be returning to the octagon in the near future. This prompted a response from Stephen Thompson.

'Wonderboy' has showcased his elite striking ability throughout his years in the octagon. But despite his expertise in the striking department, he has one glaring hole in his game which can be exploited by Usman.

When matched up against standup fighters like himself, Stephen Thompson shows a different level and proves he is above their level. However, his dominance in the cage comes to an end when a grappling game plan is implemented against him, as seen in his fights with Gilbert Burns, Tyron Woodley, and Belal Muhammad.

Being an NCAA Division II wrestler would benefit Kamaru Usman enormously in a potential fight, leading to what would likely be a one-sided victory.

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Kamaru Usman's next fight: Who does 'The Nigerian Nightmare' need to beat to return to the title picture?

After losing his shot at regaining the welterweight title, Kamaru Usman will now be forced to fight his way back into contention. That begins with his next outing, but who will be opposing him?

With Dana White announcing Colby Covington to be next up for a title shot and a number of top-ranked contenders already booked to fight, there are not too many options available that make sense for the 35-year-old.

One standout would be the surging Belal Muhammad, who has seemed unstoppable during his last few appearances in the cage. 'Remember the Name' has been screaming for a title shot but may have to settle for a blockbuster matchup against the former champion.

Two more plausible options for Usman are unbeaten stars Shavkat Rakhmonov and Khamzat Chimaev. However, it seems the latter may be forced out of welterweight and into the middleweight division.