Islam Makhachev‘s announcement that a welterweight move is imminent following the outcome of the UFC 315 headliner has alerted a few 170-pounders. Jack Della Maddalena is already welcoming the lightweight champion to come and fight for his wish to win a second belt. Now, former champion Kamaru Usman has gotten into the mix, expressing openness to a potential welterweight bout against Makhachev.
Kamaru Usman and Islam Makhachev are kind of related, not personally, but professionally. They have the same manager, Ali Abdelaziz, and because of that commonality, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ has developed a great relationship with Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s team. One might wonder if Belal Muhammad is also a part of Team Khabib, so maybe Usman doesn’t have the best relationship with him. Well, that’s true, but there’s no feelings of malice, according to Usman.
Meanwhile, Kamaru Usman believes that a fight against Islam Makhachev is bound to be a fight for the ages, so maybe they can talk about that potential matchup. “It’s one of those things that we’ll have to talk about. Obviously, that’s a blockbuster fight. Former P4P and the current P4P champion,” said Usman on the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast to co-host Henry Cejudo. “I love those guys. Islam, Khabib, I love them all. Unlike the situation with Belal, which, listen, I know me and Belal had our differences here and there. I never wish bad on anybody.”
Given that they have the same manager, Kamaru Usman and Islam Makhachev are somewhat teammates. But recalling what boxing legend Mike Tyson told the former champion during a meetup, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ believes that he and the lightweight champion can help each other make bank should they ever go ahead and square off inside the Octagon. As such, he’s got no issues in considering a potential clash against Makhachev.
“It’s a little different situation with Islam… Remember what Mike Tyson said, Henry?… He said it right. Friends make friends rich,” Kamaru Usman added. “If that’s the situation, then, obviously, I think Islam and I are mature enough to have a conversation. I don’t see why not [I can’t fight Islam Makhachev].”
Kamaru Usman says he’s open to a fight against Islam Makhachev
“That’s a blockbuster fight. Former P4P and the current P4P champion…
Friends make friends rich. If that’s the situation, I think Islam and I are mature enough to have a conversation about that.”
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 13, 2025
Well, the potential fight against Islam Makhachev is an interesting idea, but he’s got Joaquin Buckley to prepare for next. Nevertheless, the prospect of fighting the lightweight champion is not the only thing Usman is excited about. He believes that the welterweight division is in a great place right now. Let’s take a look at that front.
Kamaru Usman believes the welterweight division is an exciting phase
During the same conversation with Henry Cejudo, Kamaru Usman claimed that the welterweight division is as exciting as it has ever been. He believes that when he was champion, he was just coming back to fight the same fighters he had beaten before, due to the lack of credible contenders. But now, with a new champion and several new fighters in the top 5, Usman is excited about the potential matchups he might have.
“[Della Maddalena] the new champion, Buckley, Sean Brady, Ian Garry, Morales [who is] about to fight Gilbert Burns, Carlos Prates, Shavkat Rakhmonov,” said Kamaru Usman. “This is what I wanted because being at the top of the division for so long, it was almost like I had been through the guys and I was coming around going through them again. And now, there’s all these new guys here. There’s all these new blood, new exciting matchups.”
Well, first things first, and Joaquin Buckley is the man to beat for Kamaru Usman. He’s currently riding on a 3-fight losing skid and would hope to break the duck next month. It will be his first fight since UFC 294. So, how does he fare against ‘New Mansa’? Let us know your thoughts on it, in addition to your thoughts on Usman taking on Islam Makhachev in a potential fight.
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