UFC: Kamaru Usman between waiting and category change

In 2023, Kamaru Usman had surprised his world. The Nigerian fighter had decided to move from the welterweight category (-77 kilos), where he was undisputed champion, to that of the middleweight (-84 kilos) to face Khamzat Chimaev, who beat him to a flat. Then, he returned to his basic category to beat Joaquin Buckley in June 2025.

Since then, several rumors circulate about a new fight in 2026, this time for the belt in the -77 kilos against the champion Islam Makhachev. However, «The Nigerian Nightmare» made a point of cutting it short. “For some reason, we’ve had conversations, but Hunter Campbell sees things differently and Hunter Campbell is more like: “Maybe not.” He wants to go in another direction. We don’t know yet, they haven’t announced: 'Islam is going to confront this guy' or 'Islam is going to confront me', but it has been a hectic back and forth.”

Several options, in another category?
For the year 2026, Kamaru Usman is eager to return to the octagon, but to face whom? Especially, in which weight class? The Nigerian fighter is reportedly in talks for a clash at the middleweight level (-84 kg). A duel that should oppose him to another African, the South African Dricus du Plessis.

In his podcast Pound 4 Pound, Usman informs that he has received the proposal and that it was being studied.

 «The fight against Islam was obviously what I wanted and what, in my opinion, would have been great. Not just for me, not just for Islam, but it would have been great for the company, it would have been great for the whole world to see that. Listen, I am constantly underestimated. The only thing I am sure of is that I am honest about my abilities. ... When I say that I can still perform at this level, I really mean it. I was offered other options, like DDP or other guys. When I am called and offered such or such guy, I say yes. At this stage, it must be important. I am not here just to fight. If it allows me to get the title I want, that’s all I want.”

Kamaru Usman is therefore ready for a 100% African confrontation, if this can allow him to fight for the title. On his part, Du Plessis could recover after losing recently to Khamzat Chimaev.