What Happened to Kamarudeen "Kamaru" Usman?
Kamaru Usman, known as "The Nigerian Nightmare," is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist and former UFC Welterweight Champion. After a dominant reign with five title defenses, he lost his title in 2022 and faced subsequent losses, but secured a win in June 2025 and is set to fight Dricus du Plessis in a middleweight bout on July 18, 2026, aiming for a two-division championship run.
Quick Answer
Kamaru Usman, the former dominant UFC Welterweight Champion, lost his title to Leon Edwards in August 2022 and subsequently lost their rematch in March 2023. He then made his middleweight debut, losing to Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023. Usman returned to the win column in June 2025 with a unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley. As of July 17, 2026, he is scheduled to face Dricus du Plessis in a pivotal middleweight bout on July 18, 2026, as he pursues a goal of becoming a two-division champion before retiring.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Born in Nigeria
Kamarudeen Usman was born in Auchi, Edo, Nigeria.
NCAA Division II National Wrestling Champion
Usman achieved national recognition in wrestling, becoming an NCAA Division II National Champion at 174 lbs while representing the University of Nebraska–Kearney.
Wins The Ultimate Fighter 21
Kamaru Usman won The Ultimate Fighter 21 Welterweight Tournament by submitting Hayder Hassan in the second round, earning a six-figure contract with the UFC.
Becomes UFC Welterweight Champion
Usman defeated Tyron Woodley via unanimous decision at UFC 235 to become the undisputed UFC Welterweight Champion.
First Title Defense vs. Colby Covington
Kamaru Usman successfully defended his welterweight title for the first time against rival Colby Covington at UFC 245, winning by technical knockout in the fifth round.
Knocks Out Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261
Usman defended his title against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261, securing a spectacular second-round knockout and becoming the first fighter to finish Masvidal in the UFC.
Defeats Colby Covington in Rematch
In his fifth title defense, Usman defeated Colby Covington via unanimous decision in their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 268.
Loses Welterweight Title to Leon Edwards
Kamaru Usman suffered a stunning fifth-round head-kick knockout loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 278, ending his dominant reign as welterweight champion.
Loses Rematch to Leon Edwards
In a trilogy bout for the welterweight title at UFC 286, Usman lost to Leon Edwards via majority decision.
Middleweight Debut Loss to Khamzat Chimaev
Usman made his middleweight debut on short notice against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, losing the competitive bout via majority decision.
Returns to Win Column vs. Joaquin Buckley
After a significant layoff, Usman returned to the welterweight division and defeated Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 69, snapping a three-fight losing streak.
Announces Two-Title Run Ambition
Kamaru Usman publicly stated his goal for 2026 is to reclaim the welterweight title and then capture the middleweight gold before retiring.
Scheduled to Fight Dricus du Plessis
Usman is scheduled to face former UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman in Oklahoma City.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Kamarudeen Usman, born on May 11, 1987, in Auchi, Edo, Nigeria, established himself as one of the greatest welterweights in UFC history. His journey began with a strong wrestling background, culminating in an NCAA Division II National Championship in 2010. He transitioned to mixed martial arts, winning The Ultimate Fighter 21 tournament in July 2015, which earned him a UFC contract.
Usman embarked on an impressive 15-fight winning streak in the UFC welterweight division, a record for the division. This dominant run led him to challenge and defeat Tyron Woodley for the UFC Welterweight Championship on March 2, 2019. He successfully defended his title five times against elite contenders, including two victories over Colby Covington and two over Jorge Masvidal, notably becoming the first to knock out Masvidal in the UFC at UFC 261 in April 2021.
His reign as champion came to a dramatic end on August 20, 2022, at UFC 278, when he was knocked out by Leon Edwards in the fifth round, losing his welterweight title. A highly anticipated rematch at UFC 286 on March 18, 2023, saw Usman lose again, this time by a majority decision. Later that year, in October 2023, Usman stepped up to middleweight on short notice to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, where he suffered another majority decision loss in his middleweight debut.
After a period of reflection and a nearly 20-month layoff from competition, Usman returned to the welterweight division on June 14, 2025, securing a unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley at UFC on ESPN 69, which revitalized his career prospects. As of early 2026, Usman, now 39, expressed ambitious plans to reclaim the welterweight title and then pursue the middleweight championship, aiming for a rare two-division title run before retiring.
His current status sees him ranked #10 in the UFC welterweight rankings as of June 20, 2026. Usman is scheduled to headline UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman on July 18, 2026, in Oklahoma City, where he will face former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis in a crucial middleweight bout. This fight is seen as a significant step towards his goal of challenging for the middleweight title.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Kamarudeen "Kamaru" Usman made different choices?