3 Best Opponents for Kamaru Usman After Win Over Joaquin Buckley

Kamaru Usman is back in the win column, and back in the welterweight title conversation as a result.

The former champion returned to action against Joaquin Buckley in the main event of Saturday's UFC card in Atlanta. It was his first fight since a late-2023 loss to Khamzat Chimaev up at middleweight, and his first at welterweight since March of the same year.

Buckley, who was riding wins over the likes of Stephen Thompson and Colby Covington, represented a tough challenge after such a long layoff, but the 38-year-old showed he has not lost a step and won the fight by unanimous decision.

Under different circumstances, Usman might be looking at a welterweight title shot next, but things are pretty chaotic at the top of the division right now, all because former lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is expected to jump the line for a title shot against new champ Jack Della Maddalena.

That leaves Usman and a growing list of other welterweight contenders with no choice but to keep fighting each other in the meantime.

Assuming a fight against Makhachev isn't next for Usman, here are three fights we think make sense for him next.

Belal Muhammad

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Belal Muhammad claimed the UFC welterweight title with a lopsided win over Leon Edwards last year, but he lost the belt to Jack Della Maddalena in his first title defense last month.

The 36-year-old is likely still healing up from that loss, which came in one of the best fights of the year so far, but he will be keen to get back on track soon.

A fight with Usman would make a ton of sense when that time comes.

It would obviously be a huge opportunity for Muhammad, as a victory over the former champion would put him right back in title contention. For Usman, meanwhile, it would be a great chance to bolster his already strong claim to a crack at the Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev winner.

It's also an interesting fight on paper, as both men are excellent wrestlers with underrated striking—though Usman seems to have the edge all-around.

Perhaps the best reason to book this fight, however, is that Usman and Muhammad have a score to settle.

They brawled on the set of Usman and Cejudo's Pound 4 Pound podcast. Footage of the incident has yet to emerge, but there's been plenty of talk about it, and there's little question the pair would be happy to settle their differences in the Octagon.

Shavkat Rakhmonov

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Shavkat Rakhmonov has had really bad luck.

The Kazakh is undefeated, with all but one of his victories coming by way of finish. That incredible streak set him up to fight Belal Muhammad for the welterweight belt last year. Unfortunately, the matchup fell through when the champion suffered an injury.

With Muhammad out, Rakhmonov took on fellow undefeated fighter Ian Machado Garry on short notice, winning the fight by decision—the only decision on his resume.

That win brought the 30-year-old to a stunning 19-0 overall and cemented him as the clear-cut top contender at welterweight. Unfortunately, he then suffered an injury of his own, which he is still recovering from. That has left him on the sidelines while a growing list of other contenders put themselves in position for the title shot he was promised.

In all likelihood, Rakhmonov will end up having to fight again before getting a title shot—simply because so many others are putting themselves in title contention during his hiatus.

In that event, a fight with Usman seems like a perfect option. As one of the greatest welterweights ever, a fight with Usman would be a great consolation prize for Rakhmonov if a title shot doesn't come together right away.

For Usman, meanwhile, it would be a chance to take out arguably the scariest fighter in the division, and make himself undeniable for a crack at the belt—whether it's wrapped around the waist of Jack Della Maddalena or Islam Makhachev.

Sean Brady

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Shavkat Rakhmonov may be considered the top contender in the UFC welterweight division, but as far as the promotion's official rankings go, Sean Brady is No. 1.

That's thanks to a lopsided submission win over former champion Leon Edwards—the man who took the belt from Usman—in his last fight.

Unfortunately, Brady will most likely suffer the same fate as other contenders like Rakhmonov and Usman, and to a lesser extent, Ian Machado Garry and Michael Morales.

Because Islam Makhachev is expected to walk right into a welterweight title shot, the 32-year-old Philadelphia native will likely need to fight at least one more time before getting the title shot he already deserves.

Much like Rakhmonov, Brady would likely be happy to fight Usman if a title shot isn't possible yet. Usman is considered the second best welterweight ever after Georges St-Pierre, and beating a guy like him is about the best thing a fighter can hope for in the division outside of winning the title.

It's a fascinating style matchup on paper, as Brady is one of the few fighters in the weight class with the grappling skill to rival Usman's. And much like contests with Usman and Muhammad or Usman and Rakhmonov, the winner would be pretty much undeniable for a championship opportunity.

Hopefully, the UFC books the rumored Jack Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev fight soon, so we can really get this division moving for the sake of the many contenders awaiting their championship chance.