Overview
- The 38-year-old former champion said his dream is to win the welterweight title in his next fight, vacate it, then move up to capture middleweight gold before retiring.
- He indicated he will likely pursue the winner of the upcoming Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev welterweight title bout, though no matchup is booked.
- If he returns to 185 pounds, a potential rematch with current middleweight titleholder Khamzat Chimaev is among the scenarios he floated for a farewell fight.
- Usman re-entered the win column with a unanimous decision over Joaquin Buckley in June after losses to Leon Edwards twice and to Chimaev at middleweight.
- Now 21-4 (16-3 UFC) and still ranked in the welterweight top five, his path depends on title results and matchmaking in divisions that also feature active contenders such as Belal Muhammad and Ian Machado Garry.