Jorge Masvidal believes Kamaru Usman would present the toughest test for Islam Makhachev at 170 pounds.
After recently winning the UFC welterweight title by outpointing Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322, former lightweight champion Makhachev now has a target on his back, with a host of contenders waiting for the first shot at the new titleholder.
While the likes of Ian Machado Garry, Michael Morales, and Shavkat Rakhmonov are all riding impressive winning streaks, Makhachev’s predecessor, Kamaru Usman (21–4 MMA, 16–3 UFC), who held the welterweight title from 2019 to 2022, has emerged as a potential frontrunner to secure the next title opportunity at 170 pounds.
Masvidal, who twice lost to Usman during that championship reign, believes “The Nigerian Nightmare” would pose the most difficult challenge for Makhachev among the available contenders.
“Islam Makhachev, he's going to fight, potentially, (Kamaru) Usman,” Masvidal said on his podcast Death Row MMA. “I like that fight, you know? That's somebody who can wrestle back into Makhachev. That's somebody that I know personally can wrestle back into Makhachev. That's his forte. That's what Usman started with, it’s his grappling background.
“And Usman's no pushover in the wrestling. I think he's better (than Makhachev) on the feet. I think he's bigger. He's longer. He's stronger. He has more experience fighting long fights on his feet as well and using his defensive wrestling like he did with Ratface Colby's bitch ass, you know, or how he did with the other nut, freaking (Khamzat) Chimaev, whatever his name is, you know?”
After suffering back-to-back title fight losses to Leon Edwards in 2022 and 2023, Usman went on to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 later in 2023. Competing up a weight class and stepping in on just days’ notice to replace the injured Paulo Costa, Usman surprised many by pushing the unbeaten Chechen to the limit in a fight Masvidal believes he should have won.
“He's very good at fighting those guys,” Masvidal said. “I actually thought he beat the 185-pound champion currently (Chimaev) on like a 11-day notice. He just got out of the couch from eating whatever the f*** he was eating. Got on a flight, went over there, and beat him two out of three rounds.
“I think this is the most dangerous fight for Makhachev at 170, man, with no doubt about it. You know, that's a big step up in competition, I think, from Jack Della Maddalena, (who) is phenomenal on the feet. Right now has some of the best hands on the roster, and his wrestling defense isn't bad either. He's a good scrambler and stuff, but he's not…he's not on Usman's level in any way with the defensive power. Wrestlers you know, Usman can wrestle defensively. I think this is one of the toughest fights for Makhachev right now, you know. I don't know if they're going to want to take that one.”
