Kamaru Usman, who once topped the rankings regardless of weight classes, expressed doubts about a potential fight with Islam Makhachev, the current lightweight champion.
Usman noted that discussions about a possible matchup are dragging on. He emphasized that such a fight would generate significant interest among fans; however, in his opinion, the UFC may be considering other contenders for Makhachev's next fight. It is worth recalling that Islam has previously stated his intention to move up to welterweight to pursue a second title, which has fueled rumors about his fight with the former dominant champion of that division.
Islam Makhachev, who holds the lightweight title, has victories over stars such as Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and Dustin Poirier. His ambitions regarding a move to the 77 kg category remain one of the most discussed topics in the world of mixed martial arts.
Kamaru Usman, who held the welterweight title from 2019 to 2022 and successfully defended it five times against fighters such as Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, and Gilbert Burns, is currently striving to reclaim his place in the title race after a challenging streak of setbacks.
As of now, the UFC has yet to announce the name of Islam Makhachev's next opponent and the date of his return to the octagon.
