Jun 14, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, UNITED STATES; Kamaru Usman (red gloves) reacts after defeating Joaquin Buckley (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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Kamaru Usman Drops Intriguing Hint About Facing Winner Of Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena

Former champions never really go away quietly, do they? They lurk in the shadows like determined predators, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce back into title contention. Kamaru Usman knows this game better than most, having ruled the welterweight division with an iron fist for years before his reign came to an unexpected end. The ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ was once considered nearly unbeatable, defending his title five times and looking virtually unstoppable until Leon Edwards landed that stunning head kick at UFC 278 in August 2022 that changed everything.

After losing his belt to Edwards and then suffering back to back defeats to the Englishman, many wondered if Usman’s best days were behind him. However, Usman silenced his doubters with a dominant performance against Joaquin Buckley this past June, snapping his three fight losing streak. Now, with Jack Della Maddalena set to defend his welterweight title against Islam Makhachev at UFC 322 on November 15, Kamaru Usman dropped an intriguing hint about facing the winner.

Kamaru Usman Ready To Take On The Winner Of UFC 322

Jack Della Maddalena’s (18-2) rise to champion status after defeating Belal Muhammad at UFC 315 in May caught many off guard. But it also created an opening for established names like Usman to work their way back into contention. The Australian fighter’s perfect 8-0 UFC record is impressive, but facing a legend like Usman would be the ultimate test of his championship credentials. Talking on his Pound 4 Pound podcast, this is what Usman said:

“If JDM defends that title against Islam, who better to say OK, let’s solidify him as the new generation of champion by taking on the biggest name, the former pound-for-pound in the division, of course, me.”

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On the flip side, a potential matchup with Islam Makhachev adds another fascinating layer to Usman’s championship aspirations. If Islam captures the welterweight title, a fight with Usman would pit two of the most dominant wrestlers in recent UFC history against each other. Both men have incredible ground games, and the kind of championship experience that makes it a superfight!

“Of course, if Islam wins, pound-for-pound vs. pound-for-pound fighting… I’ve done my job to let them know because they wanted to see, ‘Hey, are you still that guy, can you still hang with these guys, can you still do your thing,’ and I’ve done that. I went in there and showed them that. So, I’m not worried.”

Usman’s position is even stronger is his recent victory over Buckley. But there are other contenders in the division that have outworked Usman in the recent years. Shavkat Rakhmonov is a leading name, alongside Ian Garry and Sean Brady. However, star power and proven championship experience still matter in the UFC, and few fighters have more of both than Kamaru Usman.

(Image Credit: Brett Davis – Imagn Images)

Jack Della Maddalena vs Islam Makhachev

Kamaru Usman

UFC 322

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!