Once a dominant force in Dana White‘s UFC welterweight division, former champion Kamaru Usman has been on hiatus since last year after suffering his third consecutive defeat at UFC 294 against Chechen powerhouse Khamzat Chimaev. In a grueling three-round battle, Chimaev managed to secure the win before running out of gas. Following this, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ took a break to reflect on his life and career, leading to widespread rumors about his potential retirement.

However, earlier this July, Usman came forward to dispel those rumors, stating, “Let me finish my career the right way and then decide what else I want to do.” With recent changes in the welterweight division, including Belal Muhammad becoming the new champion, speculation about Usman’s return has been gaining traction.

Recently, the MMA-oriented page ‘Home of Fight’ posted a tweet featuring a screenshot they claim is from ranked #4 welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena’s Instagram, where he hinted at a showdown with Usman. Maddalena reportedly wrote, “Breaking news: Kamaru Usman vs. Jack Maddalena is verbally agreed for UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia.”

A potential showdown between the former champion and the #4 ranked contender raises important questions, particularly about the reasons Kamaru Usman is not being matched up against higher-ranked opponents, given that it is well-known ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ was once a dominant force in the division, with an impressive 15-fight winning streak from 2015 to 2021—one of the most remarkable in UFC history, before suffering three consecutive losses.

Kamaru Usman’s standing has already been questioned by top contenders like Shavkat Rakhmonov and ‘Remember The Name’, who doubt his current status and claim he no longer deserves a shot at the division’s top 3 competitors. Even more surprising is that Usman’s standing has also been challenged by Joaquin Buckley, who isn’t even ranked in the top 5.

Joaquin Buckley Questions Kamaru Usman’s Eligibility for a Title Shot

30-year-old Joaquin Buckley is at the peak of his career, enjoying a five-fight winning streak after facing two consecutive losses. He recently made headlines with a knockout victory over veteran Stephen Thompson at the remarkable UFC 307 PPV event. Following his impressive outing, the welterweight contender expressed his desire to fight Kamaru Usman next.

However, he gained even more attention earlier this year for infamously calling out Conor McGregor during his post-fight interview in front of his hometown audience at UFC on ESPN 56. He announced, “I did research on the McGregor name, and you come from a long, long line of ho*s,” which earned him boos from the crowd. While that incident is now behind him, the landscape in the welterweight division is becoming increasingly intense. Interestingly, Kamaru Usman has been involved in ongoing exchanges with Belal Muhammad, which has become a hot topic in the MMA community.

This discussion came to light when ‘New Mansa’ spoke with the ‘Parry Punch’ in an interview. When the host asked Buckley about ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’s’ chances of getting a title shot in his comeback fight, he dismissed the idea, stating, “That’s the funny thing: Who’s in line? The crazy part about Belal is that Usman doesn’t even deserve a title shot. Plus, he said Shavkat is an easier fight than Usman, and I believe that’s what the UFC is going to make—Shavkat vs. Belal. Nobody calls out Usman; he’s still a great name. The last fight he had was with Khamzat (Chimaev), so it’s been a whole year. Come and get this work. Come and get paid at least.” 

What are your thoughts on Kamaru Usman vs. Jack Maddalena? Do you believe ‘Della’ is the ideal comeback opponent for ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’, or does he deserve someone closer to the top ranks? Drop your opinion below.