Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman may be set for another shot at the title. Depending on the outcome of this weekend’s highly anticipated UFC 322 main event between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev. Fans are eagerly watching as Makhachev aims to become a two-division champion by moving up to welterweight to challenge the current titleholder.
Makhachev vacated his UFC lightweight title earlier this year after defending it four times. Marking the most successful run in the division’s history. Now, he faces a new challenge at 170 pounds against one of MMA’s most precise strikers, Della Maddalena. Regardless of who leaves Madison Square Garden with the belt. Kamaru Usman already appears to be positioned as the next challenger.
At 38, Usman has a decorated career, with five successful welterweight title defenses between 2019 and 2022. Despite setbacks, including a dramatic loss to Leon Edwards and a controversial defeat to Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight. Usman proved his resilience with a dominant victory over Joaquin Buckley in June.
Following his comeback, Usman expressed his desire to reclaim the welterweight title. “I need to get back to where I belong, and that’s being a champion. Me personally, I feel that I’m next,” he said in a recent interview on Submission Radio.
Makhachev has acknowledged the potential matchup. Stating during a livestream with influencer Adin Ross that he sees Usman as his likely next opponent after defeating Della Maddalena. Additionally, Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, praised Usman’s career and argued that he deserves the title shot based on his exceptional welterweight run.
If Makhachev wins and then defends his belt against Usman, the fight would cement both athletes as among the greatest in UFC history, delivering one of the most eagerly anticipated matchups in MMA.
