Kamaru Usman
Nigerian Nightmare
Nigeria
Routed in OKC main event
Usman lost to Dricus Du Plessis via unanimous decision (45-50, 46-49, 46-49) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Oklahoma City.
ANALYSIS
It's going to be of little solace, but Usman deserves a massive amount of credit for not only lasting the full 25 minutes, but for pushing the pace in the dying moments. He was shockingly ineffective the rest of the fight, absorbing countless punches, knees, and head kicks which left him wobbled on multiple occasions. Usman turned 39 years of age in May and he simply isn't moving anywhere near as well as he did in his prime. He did try to wrestle early on, but never fully committed to it. Usman's athleticism and all-around game resulted in him having one of the best welterweight runs of all time, but that run long ago came to an end and going up against elite middleweights isn't the recipe to get things back on track. He's 1-4 in his past five fights and has just a single win dating back to November 2021. The UFC needs to match Usman up against more reasonable competition if they plan on continuing to run him back out there.
It's going to be of little solace, but Usman deserves a massive amount of credit for not only lasting the full 25 minutes, but for pushing the pace in the dying moments. He was shockingly ineffective the rest of the fight, absorbing countless punches, knees, and head kicks which left him wobbled on multiple occasions. Usman turned 39 years of age in May and he simply isn't moving anywhere near as well as he did in his prime. He did try to wrestle early on, but never fully committed to it. Usman's athleticism and all-around game resulted in him having one of the best welterweight runs of all time, but that run long ago came to an end and going up against elite middleweights isn't the recipe to get things back on track. He's 1-4 in his past five fights and has just a single win dating back to November 2021. The UFC needs to match Usman up against more reasonable competition if they plan on continuing to run him back out there.
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Headlining UFC OKC
Usman will fight Dricus Du Plessis in a middleweight bout as the main event of UFC OKC on July 18, Nolan King of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Usman will step into the octagon for the first time this year, and his last bout came against Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision at UFC Atlanta on June 14, 2025. Usman isn't getting any younger, and that win over Buckley was his first victory since November 2021. It remains to be seen how he'll handle an elite striking force in Du Plessis.
Usman will step into the octagon for the first time this year, and his last bout came against Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision at UFC Atlanta on June 14, 2025. Usman isn't getting any younger, and that win over Buckley was his first victory since November 2021. It remains to be seen how he'll handle an elite striking force in Du Plessis.
Dominates for first win since 2021
Usman defeated Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Atlanta.
ANALYSIS
We last saw Usman in October 2023, at which point he was dropping a unanimous, late-notice decision to Khamzat Chimaev at 185 pounds. He found his range in that fight after a slow start and would have had a great chance of winning if it was scheduled for five rounds. Back in his natural welterweight class here, Usman dominated early on before losing some steam. Kamaru landed one takedown in each of the first two rounds, securing 7:33 worth of control time and finishing with a 74-4 edge in total strikes landed. There was again a takedown and some ground control time in Rounds 3 and 4, before Usman slowed and Buckley gained some ground in Round 5. By then, the fight was all but over, but both men would go on to walk away with $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses. It's probably a stretch to think Usman can hang with the very best 170-pounders in the world at age 38, but he's clearly got plenty of gas left in the tank. This was his first win since November 2021, snapping a three-fight losing streak.
We last saw Usman in October 2023, at which point he was dropping a unanimous, late-notice decision to Khamzat Chimaev at 185 pounds. He found his range in that fight after a slow start and would have had a great chance of winning if it was scheduled for five rounds. Back in his natural welterweight class here, Usman dominated early on before losing some steam. Kamaru landed one takedown in each of the first two rounds, securing 7:33 worth of control time and finishing with a 74-4 edge in total strikes landed. There was again a takedown and some ground control time in Rounds 3 and 4, before Usman slowed and Buckley gained some ground in Round 5. By then, the fight was all but over, but both men would go on to walk away with $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses. It's probably a stretch to think Usman can hang with the very best 170-pounders in the world at age 38, but he's clearly got plenty of gas left in the tank. This was his first win since November 2021, snapping a three-fight losing streak.
Set to headline UFC Atlanta
Usman will face Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight bout as the headliner of UFC Atlanta on June 14.
ANALYSIS
Usman will have plenty of time to prepare for this fight in an effort to get back to winning ways. His most recent fight was a bout he accepted on a 10-day notice and ended up losing to Khamzat Chimaev via majority decision on Oct. 21, 2023. The veteran owns a 20-4 pro record. though it's worth noting he's entering this fight after dropping his last three bouts.
Usman will have plenty of time to prepare for this fight in an effort to get back to winning ways. His most recent fight was a bout he accepted on a 10-day notice and ended up losing to Khamzat Chimaev via majority decision on Oct. 21, 2023. The veteran owns a 20-4 pro record. though it's worth noting he's entering this fight after dropping his last three bouts.
Hang tough in late-notice loss
Usman lost to Khamzat Chimaev via majority decision (27-29, 27-29, 28-28) at UFC 294 on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
ANALYSIS
It was a perfectly reasonable effort from Usman against an elite opponent in a fight he accepted about 10 days ago. The first round was an unmitigated disaster for Kamaru, as he was immediately planted on his back and spent the entire frame defending submission attempts from Chimaev, but he got progressively better as the fight moved forward. Round 2 was super close, as was Round 3, although Khamzat landed a late takedown that seemed to be the final nail in the coffin. It remains to be seen if Usman's move to middleweight will be permanent or if this was just a one time thing, but he proved in this fight he can absolutely hang with one of the best in the world at 185 pounds.
It was a perfectly reasonable effort from Usman against an elite opponent in a fight he accepted about 10 days ago. The first round was an unmitigated disaster for Kamaru, as he was immediately planted on his back and spent the entire frame defending submission attempts from Chimaev, but he got progressively better as the fight moved forward. Round 2 was super close, as was Round 3, although Khamzat landed a late takedown that seemed to be the final nail in the coffin. It remains to be seen if Usman's move to middleweight will be permanent or if this was just a one time thing, but he proved in this fight he can absolutely hang with one of the best in the world at 185 pounds.
Short-notice middleweight co-main
Usman will compete against Khamzat Chimaev in a middleweight fight at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 21, according to Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com.
ANALYSIS
UFC 294's co-main was initially Chimaev against Paulo Costa before the Brazilian withdrew because of a staph infection in his right elbow. On just 10 days' notice, Usman has opted to take Costa's place, giving the Nigerian Nightmare multiple potential opportunities should he defeat Chimaev in this high-risk showdown. Defeating the undefeated Chimaev would solidify Usman as No. 1 contender for either the UFC Welterweight Championship (to be decided between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington at UFC 296) or the UFC Middleweight Championship (held by Sean Strickland).
UFC 294's co-main was initially Chimaev against Paulo Costa before the Brazilian withdrew because of a staph infection in his right elbow. On just 10 days' notice, Usman has opted to take Costa's place, giving the Nigerian Nightmare multiple potential opportunities should he defeat Chimaev in this high-risk showdown. Defeating the undefeated Chimaev would solidify Usman as No. 1 contender for either the UFC Welterweight Championship (to be decided between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington at UFC 296) or the UFC Middleweight Championship (held by Sean Strickland).