LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 14: (L-R) Kamaru Usman of Nigeria strikes Colby Covington in their UFC welterweight championship bout during the UFC 245 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 14, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Following Islam Makhachev’s incredible performance at UFC 322 to become the sport’s tenth male two-division champion, there is one contender that the new welterweight king made clear he wanted to face next: Kamaru Usman. 

“Today, the two did fight very well, Morales and Prates, but I still think Kamaru can beat them both. And Kamaru is the biggest. Young fighters are hungry, but Kamaru is still dangerous and one of the best in this game. If you give me the choice and ask me who I want to fight, I will take Kamaru.” Makhachev stated on the UFC About Last Fight Show. 

Kamaru Usman is a household name in MMA. Not only is Kamaru Usman among the greatest welterweights of all time with George St. Pierre, but he is also among the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in MMA history. A fight between two legends, Usman and Makhachev, sells itself because it is a super fight. Should the UFC book the fight for 2026?

Based on merit, it is hard to argue that Kamaru Usman deserves to be next in line to fight for the welterweight title

The UFC welterweight division has several worthy contenders, such as Shavkat Rakhmonov, Michael Morales, Carlos Prates, and the winner of Belal Muhammad vs. Ian Machado Garry. Given the incredible depth of talent in the welterweight division, it is fair to wonder if Kamaru Usman, a fighter who has lost three of his last four fights, deserves to fight for welterweight gold. Based on merit, it is hard to argue that Kamaru Usman deserves to be next in line to fight for the welterweight title. The 38-year-old has lost three of his last four fights and has fought only once in the previous two years. Yes, he is among the greatest welterweight fighters in UFC history, but he has not held the title in three years and has not beaten an active top five welterweight. At UFC 322, both Michael Morales and Carlos Prates knocked out two top-five-ranked opponents in Sean Brady and former champion Leon Edwards, respectively. This week’s UFC Fight Night will feature another up-and-coming contender, Ian Machado Garry, versus former champion Belal Muhammad. We did not even mention that Shavkat, who won a number one contender’s bout before in December of 2024.

The welterweight division has more names and potential championship contenders than any other division in the UFC right now. What gives Kamaru Usman the right to skip the line and fight for the belt? Of course, a significant push for this fight will be made considering that both fighters have the same manager, Ali Abdelaziz, one of the shrewdest negotiators in combat sports. The issue with a Makhachev vs Usman super fight is that it does not feel deserved or fair to the other contenders in the division. However, I am not opposed to the UFC booking Kamaru Usman as the next welterweight title challenger, as a fight between Usman and Makhachev would be fascinating.

Kamaru Usman is capable of giving the UFC’s pound-for-pound king the toughest fight of his career

 Islam Makhachev is widely considered to be the greatest lightweight in UFC history; he is a two-division champion and all-time pound-for-pound great, but beyond Alexander Volkanovski, he has not faced an opponent who hasn’t been completely overwhelmed by his grappling ability. Jack Della Maddalena was supposed to be a legitimate threat to Islam Makhachev with his superior boxing and strong takedown defense, as evidenced by his fight with Belal Muhammad at UFC 315. Yet, Makhachev was able to dominate Jack Della Maddalena with nineteen minutes of control time with only four takedowns through five rounds. Very few MMA fighters in the world can withstand his grappling. From a stylistic standpoint, I do not think many welterweights are well-rounded enough to be a threat to Islam Makhachev. Still, Kamaru Usman is undoubtedly capable of giving the UFC’s pound-for-pound king the toughest fight of his career. 

Kamaru Usman may possess the wrestling ability to cause Makhachev problems. Let’s not forget, Kamaru Usman is the only fighter in the UFC to give Khamzat Chimaev trouble. The pair met in the middleweight division in Usman’s first fight in the 185-pound division at UFC 294. On ten days’ notice, Kamaru Usman stepped in for the injured Paulo Costa to take on the UFC’s boogeyman, Khamzat Chimaev.

After a 10-8 round for Chimaev in the first, Usman settled in and gave Chimaev a competitive fight. Chimaev’s 33% takedown percentage against Usman is the lowest among middleweight champions in his nine UFC fights, and he was outstruck and arguably won rounds two and three. The ability of Usman to take that fight on ten days’ notice, in Abu Dhabi, at a higher weight class, against a naturally bigger fighter, was extremely impressive.

“Usman versus Islam is very compelling. I also love the idea that we got reminded even by proxy, but we got reminded how great Kamaru Usman is. He was the hardest fight of Khamzat Chimaev’s career and is the only guy that clearly won a round against him.” Chael Sonnen stated on his YouTube channel following Chimaev’s dominant UFC 319 over DDP, where Chimaev had 21:40 of control time.

At 38 years old, it is fair to wonder if Kamaru Usman is the same guy he was when he was the welterweight champion. Especially considering the five knee surgeries he has dealt with over the last few years, but he still possesses the striking and wrestling skills to give Makhachev problems. When healthy and at his best, there was not a more complete fighter in the UFC than Kamaru Usman. He can strike and wrestle, and an absolute warrior.

We know he can compete with a fighter with a similar style to Islam Makhachev. We saw Usman compete with Chimaev at UFC 294, but Chimaev is a naturally bigger fighter than Usman. Against Makhachev, Usman has the size advantage, with a two-inch height advantage and a five-inch reach advantage. In his prime Kamaru Usman would defeat Makhachev. Currently, Usman is the toughest stylistic matchup for Makhachev, and that is why the UFC should book this fight.