Kamaru Usman: I'd move up and title challenge at middleweight, if ...

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman defended his belt for the third straight time with a win over Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC 258 on Saturday, breaking the league record for consecutive wins in the division (13). It appears BMF Jorge Masvidal is next, following a season as opposing coaches on TUF.

It’s crazy how similar of a path I’m walking with Rashad Evans, said Usman to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. Rashad winning The Ultimate Fighter – I did that. Rashad being a UFC champion – I did that. Rashad coached The Ultimate Fighter and now I’m in a position to do that. Rashad’s a Hall of Famer. I told him, ‘Hey big bro, I’m coming! I’m trying to get that jacket too.’ So it’s crazy how much of a path. It’s kind of do I have a choice to do it, yes or no? For that reason alone it’s almost a yes for me.

The pair may fight in Masvidal’s hometown of Miami, which suits Usman just fine.

I run Miami, he said. Miami is mine. He doesn’t run anything in Miami. You don’t run anything in Miami if you’re getting beat up like that. No city wants a loser. Miami is mine. I run Miami. So yes, he gets to leave his house to come fight in my arena in Miami… It’s gonna be a great place to do it. I don’t think they’ve ever had a UFC fight at the AAA Arena, so that would be amazing.

Usman talked about following in Evans’ path, but the record he needs to eclipse is that of division GOAT Georges St-Pierre, and GSP moved up to middleweight in his last fight, and won the title there. Usman says he’s open to attempting the same, with one condition.

Absolutely, said Usman. If Izzy is willing to move up – well, he is moving up – but, if he’s willing to give up that 185 belt and say ‘I don’t want to have anything to do with that division anymore’ then absolutely. I would entertain that thought. But on no account right now would I ever entertain going up to fight with Izzy. That’s just not something that I am interested in. I’ve stated it over and over and over before, I’d rather there be two African’s with belts as opposed to one African with two belts. And you know, after March there’s going to be three Africans with four belts. So it’s a good time to be an African. Good time.

What do you think UG? What does “The Nigerian Nightmare” have to do to eclipse GSP as 170 GOAT?