Kamaru Usman believes discussions about a potential superfight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria ultimately cost him an opportunity to challenge for the UFC welterweight title.
After Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) captured the 170-pound championship by defeating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 last November, Usman (21-4 MMA, 16-3 UFC) said he was eager to be the first fighter to challenge the former lightweight champion for his new title. Makhachev also publicly suggested that Usman deserved the opportunity ahead of surging contenders Ian Machado Garry and Michael Morales.
Instead, speculation surrounding a possible clash between Makhachev and Topuria at the UFC's planned White House event delayed movement in the welterweight title picture. Although that bout never came together, the championship has since been booked, with Machado Garry set to challenge Makhachev in the main event of UFC 330 in Philadelphia on Aug. 15.
Usman, meanwhile, will move up to middleweight to face former champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC) at UFC Oklahoma on July 18.
Speaking on his Pound4Pound podcast, Usman said he believes the prolonged negotiations behind the scenes prevented him from securing the title shot he wanted.
"We all know which fight that I wanted. I wanted that fight," Usman said. "And so I think there was just a lot of back-and-forth stuff being done. And now we kind of hear all the stories of potentially they were trying to make Ilia versus Islam and all of these things. And I wanted the Islam fight."
According to Usman, the uncertainty surrounding Makhachev's next opponent dragged on for months before the UFC shifted its attention elsewhere.
"So all of these things behind the scenes kind of dragged it on and dragged it on and dragged it on," Usman said. "And then DDP was mentioned, not really offered, but mentioned, which I believe we talked about earlier on the show a while back."
While disappointed to miss out on the welterweight championship opportunity, Usman said he remained focused on taking the biggest available fight if it could put him back in title contention.
"What I said, yeah, if that's — I just need something that gets me to the title. I just want that. If you're not going to give me the title, then give me something that gets me to the title," Usman said.
Rather than waiting for another opportunity at 170 pounds, the former champion will now test himself against Du Plessis in a high-profile middleweight matchup, hoping a victory will strengthen his case for another run at UFC gold.
