Last week at UFC Tampa, the final event of the year, UFC welterweight star Joaquin Buckley emerged as the biggest highlight of the night. In a one-sided affair, ‘New Mansa’ sent Colby Covington out of the canvas in just three rounds, cutting open Covington above his right eye, forcing the ringside doctor to stop the fight. With a perfect 4-0 record this year, 30-year-old showed no signs of slowing down as he dominates the division.

After the fight, he wasted no time calling out his next opponents, including reigning division champion Belal Muhammad, Leon Edwards, and the Nigerian Nightmare, Kamaru Usman, declaring, “I think it’s Kamaru Usman, baby. Let’s do it.”

However, while Edwards and Muhammad have yet to respond, 37-year-old Kamaru Usman rejected Joaquin Buckley’s callout, dampening the Missouri native’s hopes of facing him. The Nigerian Nightmare, on his podcast ‘P4P,’ stated, “When I’m healthy, I’ll whoop everyone of y’all. I don’t care who it is, but one thing I won’t do, because I’ve done it for so long, is compete when I’m not ready. I remember watching the Buckley fight and thinking, ‘I like that matchup.’ When I’m healthy, I will dominate anyone, no matter who it is.”

Kamaru Usman, a once dominant force in the welterweight division with a 15-fight win streak, earned his ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ moniker. However, after his tough loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in 2023, the former champion appeared more cautious. Stepping in on short notice, he was defeated in the third round. Following the fight, Chimaev suggested that ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ took the bout “just to make money.”

Recently, rumors circulated that Kamaru Usman might make a short-notice return to the octagon at UFC 310, following the disruption of the original title fight between Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov due to Muhammad’s bone infection. However, reflecting on experiences, the former champion decided against taking the fight on short notice. Now, the question arises: if not against Joaquin Buckley, who will Kamaru Usman face upon his return to the octagon?

Who is next for Kamaru Usman?

It’s now been more than a year since former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has been on hiatus. Not just one, but his back-to-back three losses—one of which against Leon Edwards cost him his title—have shaken the former champion’s confidence. The Nigerian Nightmare, who once didn’t hesitate to take fights on short notice—sometimes with just 10, 6, or even 5 days’ notice—has now taken more than a year to make his comeback. Despite numerous rumors, none of them have materialized, leaving fight fans hoping to see the former champion’s

The former champion’s absence doesn’t mean Kamaru Usman lacks opponents, however, as there’s a long line of challengers waiting for him. Names like Ian Garry and, more recently, Joaquin Buckley have been added to the list. But none of these potential matchups are certain for now. Why? According to leaked information from fellow welterweight Sean Brady and later shared by MMA Frenzy, the 37-year-old Usman is set to face Jack Della Maddalena at UFC’s Sydney event in February.

Although no one has officially confirmed this, it’s the only information circulating publicly. The UFC Sydney is expected to host a highly anticipated middleweight title rematch between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland; however, Kamaru Usman’s return has now become the main focus. Fans are eagerly awaiting confirmation from UFC boss Dana White, and as soon as there’s an update, we’ll be sure to deliver it to you. Stay tuned.