Kamaru Usman remains ready for another championship run, but the road back to UFC gold may not unfold the way he expected.
The former welterweight champion has openly expressed interest in facing reigning UFC Welterweight Champion Islam Makhachev, yet recent discussions suggest the promotion could be leaning in another direction.
Speaking on the Pound 4 Pound podcast, Kamaru Usman admitted that conversations about a title fight have taken place, but nothing is finalized.
“For some reason, we’ve had conversations, but Hunter Campbell feels differently and Hunter Campbell is like, ‘Maybe not,’ he wants to go a different way,” Usman said.
“We don’t know yet. They haven’t come out and said Islam is going to get this guy or Islam’s going with me, but it’s been a tumultuous back and forth with getting that done.”
Despite mutual interest between both fighters, UFC Chief Business Officer Hunter Campbell appears hesitant about booking the matchup next.
Makhachev has previously named Usman as a preferred opponent but has also made it clear he is willing to defend his belt against any top contender at 170 pounds.
Some fans and fighters have pushed back against the idea of Kamaru Usman receiving an immediate title opportunity. The former champion has gone 1-3 in his last four fights, prompting criticism from rising contenders like Ian Machado Garry, who recently labeled Usman irrelevant in 2026.
Still, Usman believes his legacy, experience, and star power keep him firmly in the championship conversation.
After dominating the welterweight division for years, “The Nigerian Nightmare” remains one of the biggest names the UFC can match against Makhachev.
While the welterweight title remains his primary goal, Kamaru Usman revealed that the UFC has presented alternative options, including a move up to middleweight.
“Other things were presented to me, like potentially ‘DDP’ was presented to me or other guys,” Usman said.
“Listen, there’s one thing about me — when they call and they say this guy or that guy, I don’t go, ‘Uh, maybe, maybe, maybe.’ No, I say yes.”
The “DDP” Usman referenced is former UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis, who lost the belt after a grappling-heavy defeat to Khamzat Chimaev in August 2025.
Turning down or delaying such opportunities shows Usman’s focus remains firmly on reclaiming welterweight gold rather than chasing fights outside his main objective.
For now, Kamaru Usman waits as the UFC finalizes its next move. Whether the promotion books him against Islam Makhachev, another top contender, or a blockbuster fight in a different division, one thing remains clear, Usman is still chasing greatness.
The former champion may no longer hold the belt, but Kamaru Usman continues to position himself as a central figure in the welterweight title picture, determined to prove that his championship era isn’t finished yet.
