Kamaru
Usman is by no means leaving the Ultimate Fighting
Championship’s welterweight division for good, even as he steps up
for a short-notice middleweight debut.
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Usman will face the undefeated Khamzat
Chimaev on nine days’ notice in the co-main event at
UFC 294 on Saturday. While “The Nigerian Nightmare” has no
doubt that the clash is essentially a title eliminator, he also
hasn’t completely taken his eyes off the 170-pound. weight
class.
Usman even has a fairytale storyline in his mind for his
retirement, which would be a first in the history of the promotion.
The 36-year-old is currently on a two-fight slump, losing his title
to Leon
Edwards in a shock upset before being emphatically beaten in a
rematch.
Usman now wants to win the middleweight title before moving back
down to welterweight to reclaim his strap and then hang up his
gloves for good.
“No, no, absolutely not,” Usman told TMZ
Sports when asked if he’s left the welterweight division for
good. “And what a way to go out, what a way to decide that. You
know, I might just mic drop. Go grab the middleweight belt, go
down, grab the welterweight belt, then mic drop… What a way to go
out. I want both. I’ve always wanted champ-champ but what a way to
go: get the top one then come back down, no one’s ever done that.”