On June 14, 2025, at UFC Atlanta, Usman overcame a three-fight skid—two losses to Leon Edwards and one to Khamzat Chimaev by outwrestling and outgrinding Joaquin Buckley and scoring a unanimous decision win. In an emotional post-fight moment, he explained why the win meant a lot to him.
“I needed to get that monkey off my back… I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level.”He even reaffirmed his confidence, declaring: “I have been, and always will be, the f**king boogeyman.”
That win didn’t just break the streak,it reignited him. Buckley himself acknowledged Usman’s dominance and composure, signaling that the Nigerian Nightmare isn’t done yet.
At 38, Usman is pragmatic. He’s not spinning in circle —he’s eyeing the belt. Before Atlanta, in an appearance on The Anik & Florian Podcast, he said:
“I know I’m at the tail end, let me finish the career the right way… Oh yes, [I’ll face one of them next].”
He specifically mentioned names like Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry, Jack Della Maddalena, and Belal Muhammad as potential targets all top-tier talents he’d relish facing.
“It’s an interesting spot. I’ve never been in a spot like this… For me, I made my career being a welterweight… But, for the right fight, middleweight makes sense.” He told Sportskeeda.
Usman has made it clear he wants one more fight before jumping back into a title run. In a candid X post, he essentially told fans:
“If it were up to me, I’d fight Belal Muhammad for the belt at the end of the year. However ‘to satisfy everybody’ it’s more realistic I fight one more time first.”
That aligns with his coach on the Pound 4 Pound podcast: Usman’s intent is to get healthy, stay active, and make strategic moves into contention.
If he successfully puts away his next opponent, a rematch with Leon Edwards or a clash with whoever holds the belt (Muhammad or Della Maddalena) is next.
In the future, the fighter revealed he’s open to exploring middleweight and perhaps even boxing down the line, However, Usman remains focused on ending his UFC journey on top.
At this stage, it’s not just about making noise, it’s about proving that “the tail end” of his career is still one hell of a show. He’s putting the pieces together, but one thing’s certain: Usman isn’t done, he’s reloading.
