Already looking ahead, Usman names his next opponent

In the space of a year, Kamaru Usman has gone from undisputed UFC middleweight champion on a 19-fight winning streak to a contender hunting for opponents to get his career back on track. Since losing his title to Leon Edwards in August 2022, the Nigerian has suffered defeat after defeat. On Saturday, he was outclassed by MMA's rising star Khamzat Chimaev. The Swede of Chechen descent, unbeaten in the cage, dominated him over three rounds. That makes it three straight losses in 18 months for a fighter who had suffered just one defeat in 10 years of competing in the octagon.

Far from downbeat, Kamaru Usman is already looking to the future. The Nigerian wants another fight to bounce back. He has his next opponent in his sights. "I'll take Dricus du Plessis as the co-main event at UFC 300. Why not?" The South African was due to face another Nigerian, Israël Adesanya before he was injured and pulled out. He has always said he wants to fight Usman and Adesanya to show them he is the real king of Africa in MMA. It remains to be seen whether Dana White, the UFC boss, is interested in the fight. Dricus du Plessis, 29, has six fights and six wins in the UFC.