Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Kamaru Usman reacts during his fight with Leon Edwards (not pictured) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

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Kamaru Usman Breaks Down His No-Nonsense Path To Regain UFC Supremacy

Kamaru Usman lays out his simple plan to regain and even outshine his former glory in the UFC starting this weekend!

Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Kamaru Usman reacts during his fight with Leon Edwards (not pictured) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

Kamaru Usman was once the king of the welterweight division, sitting pretty at the top of the mountain. ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ ruled the 170-pound weight class for years with his suffocating wrestling and improving striking game. His reign felt unstoppable until Leon Edwards landed that head kick heard around the world at UFC 278 in August 2022. That moment changed everything for Usman, who had defended his title five times and seemed invincible.

After losing the belt to Edwards, Usman got an immediate rematch at UFC 286 in London. Many expected him to reclaim his throne on enemy territory, but Edwards proved the first victory wasn’t a fluke. The Brit outpointed Usman in a closely contested fight, leaving the Nigerian-American star in unfamiliar territory. Then came the most brutal blow of all, a devastating loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. That defeat dropped Usman to a three-fight losing streak, something nobody saw coming from the former dominant champion. Now he’s ready to fight his way back to the top.

Kamaru Usman Reveals His Comeback Plan

Usman returns to action this weekend against Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta. The former champion hasn’t competed since October 2023, giving him plenty of time to heal and plan his comeback. During the UFC Atlanta Media Day, Usman laid out his ambitious three-fight plan that would see him capture titles in two different weight classes. His confidence remains sky-high despite the recent setbacks, and he’s already mapping out his path back to championship gold.

“Just pretty simple I lay out the map just right here, finish Buckley this weekend. And then wait for the winner of i believe Islam [Makhachev] and JDM… and win that and probably vacant and go up myself Dricus Du Plessis If he is the champion.”

#UFCAtlanta's Kamaru Usman lays out his "pretty simple" plan to finish Joaquin Buckley, beat Islam Makhachev for the 170 belt then move up to 185 and dethrone DDP. pic.twitter.com/aN85A4DbeS
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 11, 2025

Usman believes he deserves the next title shot after beating Buckley, which would put him right back in the championship picture. If he wins that fight, he plans to vacate the welterweight title and move up to middleweight to challenge Dricus du Plessis. The whole plan sounds like something straight out of a video game, but Usman seems deadly serious about making it happen.

The former champion’s record stands at 20-4, with his last three fights all ending in defeats. Buckley presents a real threat with his explosive power and momentum. The 30-year-old striker has finished four of his last six opponents and looked sharp in his recent victory over Colby Covington. Usman’s wrestling pedigree and experience give him advantages, but ‘Father Time’ catches up with everyone eventually. At 37 years old, Usman needs to prove he still has what it takes to compete with the division’s elite.

(Image Credit: Per Haljestam – Imagn Images)

Dricus Du Plessis

Islam Makhachev

Jack Della Maddalena

Joaquin Buckley

Kamaru Usman

UFC Atlanta

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!