UPDATE: Kamaru Usman is setting his sights on a sensational finish to his UFC career, aiming to retire as a two-division champion. In an exclusive interview with TMZ Sports, the former welterweight champion revealed his ambitious blueprint, which hinges on the outcome of the UFC 322 main event this Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Usman, 38, is keenly interested in the title clash between current welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev, who is moving up to challenge for the 170 lb. belt after relinquishing his lightweight title. “I think [the fight is] a toss-up, but I do think Islam has the grappling edge when it goes down to the ground,” Usman stated, highlighting his anticipation for the match-up.
The former champion, known as the “Nigerian Nightmare,” last fought in June 2023, securing a victory over Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision. While he has no specific return date to the Octagon, Usman is determined to fight the winner of the UFC 322 main event. “The storybook would be to go and grab this title, then go and grab the other title,” Usman shared, expressing his goal to capture the welterweight title before challenging for the middleweight championship.
Usman has his sights set on the middleweight title currently held by Khamzat Chimaev, who handed Usman one of his four career losses in a closely contested match. “I think that’s an intriguing fight,” Usman remarked about a potential rematch. “That’s a compelling fight that everybody would want to see on a full training camp to go out and challenge him.”
With a legacy that includes a dominant reign as welterweight champion for over three years, Usman is driven by the desire to add the two-division champion title to his impressive resume. “That’s the only thing that is not on the resume,” he said, emphasizing the significance of this goal.
As fans eagerly await the outcomes of UFC 322, all eyes will be on Usman’s next moves. Will he seize the opportunity to become a two-division champion? Stay tuned as developments unfold in this thrilling chapter of Usman’s career.
With the stakes high and a potential return to the Octagon looming, Kamaru Usman’s journey to greatness is just beginning, and the world will be watching.