Fomer UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is gearing up for his long-awaited return to the octagon, and he has his sights set on four top prospects in the division. Despite being on a three-fight losing streak, Usman remains confident in his abilities and believes he can take down any of the four fighters he has in his crosshairs.
In a recent interview on the Pound-4-Pound podcast, Usman named Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Machado Garry, Jack Della Maddalena, and Belal Muhammad as the four fighters he would like to face in his UFC return. Usman stated that these fighters are the “hot prospects” in the division right now, but he believes they are not on his level yet.
Usman, who turned 38 earlier this year, has been doing this for a long time and has the experience and know-how to derail any hype train in the UFC. He believes that he is still the bogeyman of the welterweight division and is eager to prove it.
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Out of the four potential opponents, three of them don’t have their next fight signed, which leaves the door open for a potential matchup with Usman. Shavkat Rakhmonov, who is undefeated with a record of 18-0, has been stalled due to inactivity, while Ian Machado Garry has been on a rapid rise, rattling off five wins since 2022. Jack Della Maddalena is recovering from an injury, but his name was recently mentioned in a leaked UFC 305 fight card.
Belal Muhammad, on the other hand, already has his next fight booked against Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC 304 next weekend. Usman believes that Muhammad will successfully defend the welterweight title in front of his home crowd on July 27.
Usman’s return to the UFC is highly anticipated, and fans are eager to see who he will face next. Will it be one of the four fighters he has named, or will the UFC have other plans for him? One thing is for sure, Usman is ready to prove that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division.
