‘185 Looked Good On Me’

Regardless of falling brief in his middleweight divisional debut earlier this month within the co-main occasion of UFC 294 in opposition to the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev, former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman admits he might proceed on the middleweight restrict – amid requires a keep at 185 kilos.

Usman, a former undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound quantity, slumped to an in depth, debated majority resolution loss to the undefeated finisher, Chimaev within the co-main occasion of UFC 294 earlier this month in Abu Dhabi, UAE – regardless of a rallying and valiant effort within the second and third rounds.

Struggling his third consecutive defeat, the ONX Labs trainee dropped a March majority resolution loss to three-time foe, Leon Edwards at UFC 286 in London, which adopted a spectacular fifth spherical high-kick knockout loss to the Birmingham native in August of final yr, as his dominant title run got here to a crashing finish.

Welcoming the potential for a that includes slot at UFC 300 deliberate for April of subsequent yr, Usman weighed up a possible middleweight title-eliminator in opposition to the surging, Dricus du Plessis, whilst former champion, Robert Whittaker also welcomed a fight with the Nigerian at the middleweight limit.

“That struggle pursuits me,” Robert Whittaker stated. “I like that struggle. I’d struggle a middleweight (Kamaru) Usman. I don’t assume it’s a foul struggle to have.”

“What’re you gonna do? Make Usman struggle ranks 30 to twenty to get within the high tier?” Robert Whittaker requested. “Consecutive defending welterweight champion, he positively deserves a dight on the high of the charts. How properly he’ll do, we are going to see however seeing contemporary blood on the high of the sport, that’s attention-grabbing. I prefer it. Seeing (Khamzat) Chimaev and (Sean) Strickland preventing, that strikes issues round. I prefer it. Makes issues attention-grabbing and thrilling. I’m right here for it. I hope he [Kamaru Usman] stays. Stick round – it’s enjoyable up right here, mate.”

Kamaru Usman welcomes middleweight keep after UFC 294

Sharing an replace on his fast future, while remaining non-committal on a keep at 185 kilos, Usman claimed he was proud of how he felt and checked out middleweight. 

“The plans – I don’t know, it’s sort of foggy,” Kamaru Usman stated on his YouTube channel. “I didn’t thoughts being up at 185 [pounds]. Yeah, in fact, the dimensions was a bit totally different at first, however I’m a championship-level fighter, so from right here on out, we wish to make these 5 rounds [fights] and never three-rounders. I don’t know, 185 [pounds] seemed good on me, so we’d. We’ll get again to y’all on that.”

Who would you wish to see Kamaru Usman struggle in his return to the UFC?