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Kamaru Usman Eyes All African Showdown

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Feb 27, 2026 10:34 PM ET

Kamaru Usman’s hoped-for showdown with welterweight champion Islam Makhachev may not materialize at least not next. The former 170-pound king says discussions with the UFC have shifted away from the Makhachev bout he pitched and toward other potential opponents, including former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.

Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) recently returned to the win column by snapping Joaquin Buckley’s streak in June, reaffirming his belief that he can still compete at the highest level. On his Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo, Usman made it clear: “The Islam fight was obviously what I wanted… It would’ve been great for me, great for Islam, great for the company.”

Makhachev himself has publicly entertained the matchup, seeing Usman as a legacy name to add to his resume. However, according to Usman, UFC executive Hunter Campbell has been hesitant to move forward. “Hunter Campbell feels differently… It’s been a tumultuous back-and-forth.”

Ngl, I would love to see Kamaru Usman vs Dricus Du Plessis

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— MMA On Point (@mmaonpoint) February 26, 2026

Enter Dricus Du Plessis?

Instead of a title fight at 170, Usman says the UFC floated other names including Du Plessis, who recently lost the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319.

A fight between Usman and Du Plessis would present an intriguing stylistic clash:

Usman: Elite wrestling base, championship experience, durability
Du Plessis: Pressure-heavy offense, size advantage, finishing ability

It would also likely require movement in weight either Usman moving up or Du Plessis coming down. Then pairing him with Du Plessis or another former champion could headline a major card without disrupting the welterweight queue.

But if Usman wants the belt back, he may need one more emphatic win against elite competition to force the promotion’s hand. At 37, “The Nigerian Nightmare” appears realistic but resolute: “If he gets me to the title that I want, that’s what I want.”

Whether that path runs through Makhachev, Du Plessis, or a surging contender, Usman’s next move could reshape two divisions.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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