Kamaru Usman, who has long held the top spot in rankings across weight classes, expressed his doubts about the likelihood of an upcoming fight with Islam Makhachev, the reigning lightweight champion.
According to Usman, discussions about a potential matchup are dragging on, and he noted that such a confrontation could attract significant viewer attention. However, he believes that the UFC management may prefer other contenders for Makhachev's next fight. Islam has repeatedly expressed interest in moving up to welterweight, where he aims to capture a second title, which has fueled rumors about his potential bout with Usman, the former champion of that category.
Islam Makhachev, currently the holder of the lightweight title, boasts impressive victories over fighters such as Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Dustin Poirier. His intention to move up to the 77 kg category remains one of the main topics of discussion in the MMA world.
Kamaru Usman, who held the welterweight title from 2019 to 2022, successfully defended it five times, defeating fighters like Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns. Currently, the veteran is trying to overcome a challenging period and get back on the path to the title.
As of today, the UFC has not yet announced the next opponent for Islam Makhachev and has not specified the date of his return to the octagon.
