Kamaru Usman Chosen as Unexpected Backup Fighter for Khamzat vs. Paulo Costa at UFC 294

 

Kamaru Usman Chosen as Unexpected Backup Fighter for Khamzat vs. Paulo Costa at UFC 294

Kamaru Usman has hinted at the possibility of making a move to the middleweight division in pursuit of a second UFC title. However, he had a strong condition - he wouldn't do it as long as his close friend, Israel Adesanya, held the 185-pound championship. Recent events have changed the landscape dramatically, as Adesanya was dethroned by Sean Strickland, a former welterweight, at UFC 293 last month. With Adesanya no longer the middleweight champion, there's nothing stopping Usman, also known as "The Nigerian Nightmare," from considering a weight class change.

But there's a potential roadblock in the form of a matchup against 170-pound contender Belal Muhammad.

Usman, like Adesanya, lost his championship belt, which means he no longer has the immediate clout to challenge for the middleweight title in his first bout in the division. However, an alternative path has emerged. Usman could potentially serve as a backup fighter for the Khamzat Chimaev vs. Paulo Costa showdown at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. This bout could determine the next title challenger in the division.

Former middleweight contender Chael Sonnen voiced his opinion on this matter, stating, "I believe that Kamaru Usman should go to 185 pounds." He explained that Usman was initially willing to fight Chimaev but didn't want to do it at 185 pounds because it would essentially become a number one contender's match. Now, with the landscape changed, the opportunity to make the move to middleweight is only a month away, and the promotion needs a backup fighter for the crucial Costa vs. Chimaev bout.

Chimaev, also a former welterweight, has aspirations for the middleweight title and shares a history with Usman. Earlier, they couldn't persuade UFC CEO Dana White to support the idea. However, circumstances have shifted, largely due to Leon Edwards, who defeated Usman in back-to-back title fights, with the most recent one occurring in the UFC 286 headliner in March. Typically, the UFC doesn't cover expenses for backup fighters in non-title fights, but the significance of the Costa vs. Chimaev matchup to the division's future might justify the investment.