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Kamaru Usman feels confident he can be competitive at middleweight after a tough fight against top contender Khamzat Chimaev.
On Saturday, Chimaev defeated a game Usman, who moved up in weight on short notice to fight for a #1 contender spot.
After the fight, Usman expressed his desire to stay at middleweight and fight Dricus Du Plessis.
“I just came off the couch in 9 days and fought a young, hungry bull like that, you know he’s gonna fight for the title, I’ll take Du Plessis, co-main UFC 300, why not? ”
Kamaru Usman wants to fight Dricus Du Plessis next at UFC 300 👀😯 pic.twitter.com/97OhcW4b4H
— Best MMA Moments (@XcellentMMA) October 21, 2023
UFC CEO Dana White was impressed with the former welterweight champion’s outing and said it’s up to Usman if he wants to stay at middleweight.
“That’s up to him, that guy has done it all,.. if you look at his career, look what he’s done. He’s the greatest welterweight of all-time, doesn’t get enough credit, stepped up, took this fight at 85, whatever he wants to do, I’m good with it.”
@jzosportsmma Dana White on Kamaru Usman vs Khamzat Chimaev being different at five rounds #khamzatchimaev #kamaruusman #ufc294
It’s unclear if Du Plessis would be interested in a fight against Usman, considering he believes he should be next in line for a title shot after defeating Robert Whittake