Kamaru Usman, who previously held the top spot in the world rankings across all weight classes, expressed doubts about the upcoming fight with Islam Makhachev, the current lightweight champion.
Usman noted that discussions about a potential fight are dragging on. He emphasized that such a matchup would attract significant fan attention; however, the UFC management seems to be considering other fighters as contenders for Makhachev's next appearance. Islam has repeatedly stated his intention to move up to welterweight, aiming to capture a second championship belt, which has fueled rumors about a possible meeting with Usman, who previously dominated this division.
Islam Makhachev, the lightweight titleholder, has already secured victories over well-known fighters such as Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, and Alexander Volkanovski. His plans to transition to the 77-kilogram category continue to be one of the key topics in the world of mixed martial arts.
Kamaru Usman, who held the welterweight title from 2019 to 2022, successfully defended it five times against fighters like Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns. Currently, the veteran is trying to overcome a series of setbacks and return to the title race.
As of now, the UFC has not yet announced the next opponent for Islam Makhachev or provided a date for his return to the octagon.
