Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has misplaced his final three fights, however may very well be one win away from a title shot.
Usman (20-4) held the 170-pound championship from March 2019 till November 2021. He efficiently defended the title 5 occasions earlier than shedding to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022 by a shocking head-kick knockout late within the ultimate spherical.
Usman misplaced the rematch by way of unanimous resolution and took a short-notice combat in opposition to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 295. Usman accepted the middleweight bout on nine-days discover. He got here up quick on the judges’ scorecards however confirmed that he is nonetheless on the high of the sport even on quick discover.
Belal Muhammad captured the welterweight championship by defeating Edwards at UFC 304 in July. Usman misplaced twice to Edwards, and with him out of the way in which “The Nigerian Nightmare” has a path to a title combat once more.
“Should you actually take a look at it, and that is no shade to him as a result of I do respect this dude, however all the things he does I do higher,” Usman advised the Weighing In Podcast. “Putting, I strike higher, cleaner. I undoubtedly have extra energy to the place I might sit you down. Grappling, (I am) extra explosive.”
“It is no shade. I like Belal, however I’ll be truthful and sincere. All the pieces you do, I do higher, I am higher at” Usman continued.