Dana White: Kamaru Usman will be one of the all time greats
Kamaru Usman won the NCAA Div IIs in 2010, started fighting in 2012, the next year lost his second fight,…
Kamaru Usman won the NCAA Div IIs in 2010, started fighting in 2012, the next year lost his second fight, and then won 16 fights in a row, along the way winning TUF 21 in 2015, the UFC welterweight championship last year, and then defending it twice. Career victories include #1 ranked contender Colby Covington, #3 ranked Leon Edwards, #4 ranked Jorge Masvidal, #6 ranked Tyron Woodley, and #7 ranked Demian Maia.
UFC president Dana White recently offered high praise on the social network.
Nobody was more critical of Usman in the beginning than me, wrote White. He’s a BAD MOTHER F***** now!! He’s incredible no matter where the fight goes. By the time he’s done he will go down as one of the all-time greats.
The UFC welterweight has seen just ten undisputed champions since it began in 1998:
1. Pat Miletich (held title for a title of 931 days)
2. Carlos Newton (183 days)
3. Matt Hughes (1,577 days)
4. B.J. Penn (107 days)
5. Georges St-Pierre (2,344 days)
6. Matt Serra (378 days)
7. Johny Hendricks (266 days)
8. Robbie Lawler (602 days)
9. Tyron Woodley (945 days)
10. Kamaru Usman (656 days and counting)
Reordering the list by length of time provides a very rough measure of greatness:
1. Georges St-Pierre (2,344 days)
2. Matt Hughes (1,577 days)
3. Tyron Woodley (945 days)
4. Pat Miletich (931 days)
5. Kamaru Usman (656 days)
6. Robbie Lawler (602 days)
7. Matt Serra (378 days)
8. Johny Hendricks (266 days)
9. Carlos Newton (183 days)
10. B.J. Penn (107 days)
It is clear that for White to be right, Usman has some tough years ahead of him. “The Nigerian Nightmare” was scheduled to defend vs. Gilbert Burns at UFC 251 on July 12, 2020, but Burns tested positive for COVID-19. The fight was rescheduled for UFC 256 on December 12, 2020, but Usman needed more time to recover from an injury. Now the pair are scheduled to fight at UFC 258 on February 13, 2021.
UG, where do you think Usman stands today in the all time greats in the division? And what do you believe the future holds for him?