Abdelaziz praises fighter ahead of bout with Buckley: Usman is a special beast

Islam's move from lightweight to welterweight has sent shockwaves through the MMA world. Makhachev has dominated the lightweight division, but he wants to add another belt to his career and will fight Jack Della Maddalena later this year.

The Australian will not be an easy challenge. He is one of the best boxers on the entire UFC roster, he is a true fighter, and in his match against Belal Muhammad he showed how he can neutralize top wrestlers. He is the champion for a reason and will not give up the belt just like that, but Mahachev will enter the match as the favorite. After all, he is the top-ranked fighter on the "P4P" scale, complete in all segments, almost unbeatable. But what happens if Islam wins?

The welterweight division is currently full of legitimate challengers for the belt. Sean Brady would probably be next in line if Islam Makhachev had not intervened in the story. There is also Shavkat Rahmonov, who is struggling with injuries, but could recover by the end of this year. In addition to those two, Ian Garry, Joaquin Buckley, and Michael Morales are all getting closer to attacking the belt.

There are quite a few fighters who belong to the "new generation" of welterweights, but there is also one veteran in the game who still hopes to return to the throne. It is Kamaru Usman, a 38-year-old Nigerian who once dominated the welterweight category and defended the belt five times. In the summer of 2022, Kamaru lost the title in a shocking defeat to Leon Edwards, and seven months later he was defeated in a rematch. His last appearance was in October 2023, when Chimaev defeated him by majority decision. Usman then stepped in on "short notice" and fought in the middleweight category.

Kamaru's record

Since November 2021, Usman has not recorded a victory. He has rarely performed in recent years, and has been "cut down" by injuries. His best days are certainly over, but Usman will soon embark on his last campaign for the championship title. On June 14 (six months), he will face Joaquin Buckley, a terribly explosive and promising fighter who is also aiming for the very top.

The match with Buckley will largely determine the further course of Usman's career. A fourth consecutive defeat would probably mean the end of his career, but his manager Ali Abdelaziz claims that we can expect Usman to be maximally prepared, more than capable of defeating Buckley.

- I was in Denver last week and trained with Kamaru. He is a phenomenon, an absolute nightmare. I weigh 88 kilograms and we always 'grapple'. I get along well with everyone in the gym, but Usman is a special beast. He is focused and healthy, I can't ask for anything more, he is ready. Buckley will have a very, very long night, if he is not maximally prepared. It's going to be a long night, like the one Tyron Woodley had against Usman. - Abdelaziz said in an interview with MMA Junkie.

What many are interested in is how Usman and Mahachev would react if the UFC "matchmakers" decided to pair them up. Both have the same manager, and many remember how Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kamaru Usman were not particularly willing to fight each other. Usman also avoided a fight with Israel Adesanya because he considers him a very good friend. So, Kamaru has a history of refusing matches against people he is somehow connected to, and there is a connection between him and Islam Makhachev. According to Abdelaziz, Usman could really get a "title shot" if he defeats Buckley, and if Mahachev is the champion, Kamaru will not refuse that match.

- Usman is the greatest welterweight of all time. He is Dana White's favorite fighter, Dana loves him very much. They have a special relationship. Listen, Kamaru is one of the biggest names in the division and guess what? If Kamaru and Islam win their next fights, they want to fight each other. I'll stay home and watch that fight from my house. You know, I can imagine that fight happening. Yeah, Buckley is tough, he's in a good groove and the focus has to be on him before anything else. - Ali explained, and Usman himself recently confirmed that he would accept the fight.