Kamaru Usman might have to fight again if he wants a UFC title shot.
Recently on a three-fight losing skid, the former UFC Welterweight Champion got back to winning ways at UFC Atlanta last weekend.
There, the 38-year-old Usman halted a streaking Joaquin Buckley, defeating him via unanimous decision in a vintage performance.
Usman still has his sights on reclaiming the welterweight throne, currently held by Jack Della Maddalena, with lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and a few contenders potentially standing in the way of that.
While Usman’s the biggest name in the division, one contender isn’t so sure he’ll cut the line at 170 lbs, at least not without facing him first.
Sean Brady reacts to Kamaru Usman calling for title shot: ‘Let’s see who the no. 1 contender is’
Like Usman, #2-ranked UFC Welterweight Sean Brady is within title shot distance, having submitted former champ Leon Edwards in March.
Brady gave his reaction to Usman’s latest win over Buckley and his calls for the title, offering to fight him in a no. 1 contender bout instead.
“If he would have gotten the finish maybe he would have had more of a claim, but Buckley was number seven,” Brady said of Usman on The BradyBagz Podcast.
“You’re coming off a three fight skid. I know what he’s trying to say. He has the biggest name for the [division] but it’s like alright, say Islam and JDM fight in October. Let’s say Islam wins. He’s not fighting again until next year,” Brady explained.
“So, you’re gonna wait around eighteen months, possibly because he’s not gonna fight during Ramadan. Maybe he doesn’t fight early until early or late 2026 and then there’s Shavkat [Rakhmonov] there. They’re saying he’s still next [for the title]. So, I don’t know.
“In my mind, either way, I’ll fight Usman or I’ll fight Ian [Machado Garry].”
“It makes sense,” Brady said of a potential fight with Usman.
“I’m here for it. Let’s not wait around. Let’s see who the no. 1 contender is.”
Shavkat Rakhmonov says he will wait for title opportunity
Ranked #3 in the welterweight division, the aforementioned Shavkat Rakhmonov was initially scheduled to fight then champion Belal Muhammad for the title at UFC 310 last December.
However, an injury would force Muhammad off the card, leaving Rakhmonov to fight and defeat short-notice replacement Ian Machado Garry.
Rakhmonov reportedly entered the title eliminator with a knee injury, one that’s kept him out of competition.
Rakhmonov thinks he’s due a title shot in his return.
“I just have to heal the injury and that’s it,” Rakhmonov told Vestnik MMA (h/t: MMA Pros Pick).
“I want to fight immediately for the championship belt,” the top contender added.
“Let’s see. Time will tell. I need to be prepared.
“We will wait…”
The 19-0 Rakhmonov is coming off wins over Ian Machado Garry, Stephen Thompson and Geoff Neal.