Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has revealed a bold blueprint for the final chapter of his fighting career, announcing his intention to retire only after capturing both the welterweight and middleweight world titles in what would rank among the most remarkable comeback stories in mixed martial arts history.
The Nigerian Nightmare laid out his ambitious two-division plan at a time when many had begun to write off his prospects of returning to the sport’s summit. Having suffered back-to-back losses to Leon Edwards and a defeat to Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight on short notice, questions about whether the 38-year-old’s best days were behind him had grown louder.
But Usman silenced some of those doubts with a victory over Joaquin Buckley, and according to ClutchPoints, the Nigerian has now set his sights on a target that would place him alongside Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Henry Cejudo as a simultaneous two-division UFC champion.
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The first obstacle is reclaiming the welterweight throne, a belt he held for more than three years before Edwards dethroned him. The division has shifted considerably since then, with a dangerous and evolving landscape featuring undefeated contender Michael Morales and rising names such as Ian Garry and Carlos Prates all competing for positioning.
The middleweight ambition presents an even steeper climb. Chimaev, who was Usman’s conqueror in his debut at 185 pounds, has since gone on to claim the middleweight belt with a dominant performance over Dricus Du Plessis, and he has only improved since the pair met.
Usman, however, has pointed to the fact that he competed credibly on that occasion despite having little time to prepare, suggesting he believes a proper camp would yield a very different result.
His wrestling pedigree and suffocating top control have defined his career and remain his greatest weapons, producing victories over Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington twice, Gilbert Burns and Tyron Woodley.
Whether the UFC will provide him the pathway to achieve his two-belt dream will depend largely on his performances in the near term, but Usman has been vocal about his desire to remain active throughout 2026.
If he does accomplish the feat, his retirement would draw the curtain on one of the most compelling redemption stories the sport has produced.
Punch Sports
