Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman returned to the win column in Atlanta.
It’s close to four years since Usman defeated Colby Covington at UFC 268 to record the final successful defense of his dominant and lengthy reign. Up until Saturday’s event at State Farm Arena, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ had not won a fight since then.
That changed on June 14, however, when Usman beat Joaquin Buckley with a vintage performance in the UFC Atlanta main event.
Having reminded the division of his presence, Usman is after a second stint as champion. And to get there, the 38-year-old has been told to stay away from one “crazy” contender.
Daniel Cormier tells Kamaru Usman to steer clear of ‘crazy’ Sean Brady
During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen, Daniel Cormier assessed what should come next for ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ after UFC Atlanta.
While Usman has dismissed a fight with Belal Muhammad, ‘DC’ actually sees that as his best option — especially if it means avoiding a showdown with Sean Brady instead.
“What I’m not doing is — I’m looking at the top five, or top three, and going, ‘Which one do I want?’
“You don’t want Sean Brady. Sean Brady is crazy, and he is young,” Cormier added. “It would be like fighting Joaquin Buckley again.”
Brady is on a charge in the division, with his recent victory over Leon Edwards in London elevating him to the No. 2 spot at 170 pounds.
Kamaru Usman has made it clear what he wants next
If Usman gets his wish, talk of fighting another contender will become null and void.
During his post-fight press conference in Atlanta, the former champion staked his claim for the first shot at whoever emerges as champion from Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev’s expected title fight later this year.
“Absolutely (I want the title shot next),” Usman said. “I only really had to use one skill tonight, and everyone knows I can knock you out with my hands but if you give me that, I’m gonna take it.
“Let’s be honest, I’m the biggest (name) in the division and this is about entertainment, the UFC is an entertainment company. You want to make the biggest fight, it’s gonna be (me against) the winner of (Della Maddalena) vs. Islam.”
While both Usman and Makhachev sit under the same management banner and are on good terms, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ has made his willingness to share the cage with the Dagestani clear.