Crossroads

Kamaru Usman is one of the most dominant champions we have had in recent memory.  After tearing through the division and dominating Tyron Woodley to win the belt, Usman ruled the division with an iron fist.  Eventually, however, he lost the belt in dramatic fashion against Leon Edwards.  Since then, Usman has struggled to find his place in the UFC’s current landscape.  He lost to Edwards again in their trilogy fight.  Then, in an admirable effort, he fought Khamzat Chimaev on short notice at 185 pounds.  He ultimately came up short in that fight, however.

During his subsequent period of inactivity, many questioned his ability to compete with the up and coming welterweights.  In his absence, the division crowned two new champions and saw the rise of several exciting contenders.  Heading into Usman’s last fight against                         Image – Bleacher Report                           Joaquin Buckley, many favored Buckley to secure the win.  Buckley had just come off a dominant finish against                             Image – BBC                                Colby Covington, and many questioned whether Usman’s age had caught up to him.  In the eyes of many, this fight proved to be a crossroads in Usman’s career. 

 

The Fight

Despite these doubts, Usman looked dominant in the fight against Buckley.  Although Buckley had shown stellar takedown defense in previous fights, Usman took him down and controlled him for most of the fight.  It was a powerful reminder that the former champion remained one of the most formidable wrestlers in the division.  To his credit, Buckley rallied in the final round, but Usman displayed impressive veteran savvy to protect himself and secure the win.  In a moment when another hungry contender looked to make his mark, Usman and rebounded in brilliant fashion.

 

The Future

                                                                                             Image – New York Times

With his win in the rear-view mirror, the remaining question is whether the “Nigerian Nightmare” has one more title run left in him.  Currently, the UFC’s welterweight division has an exciting crop of new contenders.  From an activity standpoint, it is hard to place Usman above contenders such as Sean Brady, Shavkat Rakhmonov, or Ian Garry.  Furthermore, the division may be on pause if Islam Makhachev moves up to face current champion Jack Della Maddalena. 

Nonetheless, Usman remains by far the biggest name in the welterweight division, and a title shot would not be inconceivable for the former champ.  Many are hoping to see a grudge match between Usman and former champion Belal Muhammad.  A win against Belal would certainly put Usman at the front of the line to challenge the division’s champion, and would likely be an exciting fight.  The possibilities are still open for the aging veteran.