Usman: My Style Still Beats Makhachev After UFC 330
Kamaru Usman says his style still gives Islam Makhachev problems after Makhachev's tough UFC 330 win over Ian Garry.
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Kamaru Usman says his style still matches up well against Islam Makhachev, even after watching the UFC welterweight champion survive a stiff test from Ian Garry.
Makhachev retained his 170-pound title over Garry at UFC 330, winning by unanimous decision in a fight that pushed him further than expected. Usman, who has been chasing a shot at Makhachev for months, used the result to reassert his own case. "Styles make fights," Usman said on the "Pound 4 Pound" podcast, "I'm telling you guys, I can get that done."
Why Usman Still Believes He Matches Up With Makhachev
Usman's argument is built on stylistic matchups rather than the current rankings picture. He acknowledged the new crop of contenders at welterweight but believes he remains a serious threat to Makhachev, pointing to what he called the "MMA mathematics" of the matchup. It's a notable stance from a fighter who was actively pushing for a title shot when Makhachev won the belt.
That push came right after Makhachev's win over Jack Della Maddalena last November, when Usman was rallying for a title shot against Makhachev, and even Makhachev himself acknowledged Usman as his biggest threat at the time. Since then, the queue at welterweight has moved. Usman's lengthy Octagon absence allowed contenders like Garry, Carlos Prates and Michael Morales to move past him in the 170-pound pecking order.
Usman's Recent Form Complicates the Case
Usman's résumé since losing the welterweight title has been rocky. Usman lost his welterweight title in a shock knockout upset to Leon Edwards in 2022 and lost the rematch the following year. He then moved up in weight, and suffered a hard-fought majority-decision loss in a middleweight bout against Khamzat Chimaev. Dropping back to 170 pounds, Usman returned after a 20-month hiatus to beat Joaquin Buckley last year. When the title shot didn't materialize, Usman moved back up to middleweight and suffered a unanimous decision loss against Dricus Du Plessis.
That stretch, one win in four fights across two divisions, is the gap between Usman's self-scouting and where the UFC's matchmakers likely see him right now. Betting markets tend to weight recent form heavily, and a fighter bouncing between weight classes with mixed results is a tough sell for a shot at the promotion's most dominant champion, whatever the stylistic argument looks like on paper.
There's no indication of an actual Makhachev-Usman fight being discussed or scheduled at this point. Until the UFC signals otherwise, this is Usman making his case in public, not a matchup on the calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kamaru Usman say about fighting Islam Makhachev?
Kamaru Usman said on the 'Pound 4 Pound' podcast that his style still matches up well against Islam Makhachev, citing 'MMA mathematics' as the reason he believes he can beat the UFC welterweight champion.
How did Islam Makhachev perform at UFC 330?
Islam Makhachev retained his UFC welterweight title against Ian Garry at UFC 330 by unanimous decision, though he was pushed to the limit in the fight.
What is Kamaru Usman's recent UFC record?
Kamaru Usman has gone 1-3 in his last four fights, with losses to Leon Edwards twice, Khamzat Chimaev, and Dricus Du Plessis, sandwiched around a win over Joaquin Buckley.
