Current UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is willing to move up to middleweight in search of his second title, but not if it means a fight against African champion Israel Adesanya.
Usman, who fought Gilbert Burns last weekend at UFC 258 to claim his third title defense in a row, is quickly running out of things to prove with 170 pounds. He has produced a 13-0 record since his debut in the Octagon in 2015 and won victories over Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington, Tyron Woodley, Demian Maia, Rafael dos Anjos and Burns along the way. Usman’s success has already been cited alongside Georges St-Pierre as the best welterweight of all time and there are no signs of “Nigerian Nightmare” slowing down anytime soon.
With that, Usman is already thinking about moving up in weight and trying to become the fifth double champion in UFC history. Usman is big and strong enough to face any middleweight fighter, but he doesn’t want to take the momentum from Adesanya.
“Absolutely, absolutely. If Izzy is willing to go up – well, he is going up, but if he is willing to give up belt 185 and says ‘I have nothing to do with it’, then I would absolutely cherish that thought, ”said Usman ESPN.
Adesanya, who is 9-0 since her UFC debut in 2018, has already defended the 185-pound belt twice. “Last Stylebender” has been so dominant that he’s already moving up to light heavyweight to challenge defending champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 next month (details HERE). It is not known at this point whether Adesanya will reconcile the two titles if he defeats Blachowicz, but Usman needs clarity before making any weight-gaining moves.
“No way now would I think of going up to fight Izzy,” added Usman. “This is not something that interests me. I have said several times, I prefer two Africans with belts over one African with two belts. After March, there will be three Africans with four belts. It is a good time to be African. “
Usman is currently in negotiations to defend his title in the next rematch with Masvidal later this year, as well as, potentially, as coach of the next season of The last fighter. It will take some time before “Nigerian Nightmare” takes his talents to the middleweight division, but it may be the only move to make if he clears the 170-pound cast.
What do you think, Maniacs? Should Usman move up to 185 pounds? Can he master this division so well?
Inform us!