Kamal Usman thinks the path to a blockbuster with Dricus du Plessis is clear.
After being shortened by his final three outings, “Nigerian Nightmare” returns to the Octagon this Saturday night to host a surge in high-stakes showdown with welterweight candidate Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta.
Despite his recent inactivity and a string of losses, Usman is potentially one impressive performance, as he returns to the title’s photo. But that’s not about regaining the 170 pound title that he’s interested in. Certainly, that’s part of the plan, but ultimately the goal is to rise and conquer another weight class.
“My path is very easy,” USMAN told reporters at UFC Atlanta Media Day. “We’re laying out the map here. After this weekend’s Buckley, we’re waiting for the winners of Islam and JDM. I think this will be an incredible battle. It’s really great to see Islam appear in the Division.
“Win (against Islam), then go ahead, maybe open and rise. If you’re yourself vs. Doricus Duplesis, if he’s the champion, or Kamza Chimev, if Doricus is not the champion, if Doricus is the champion, then we do it with the first card of Africa.
Of course, achieving that goal means that 38-year-old Usman has to go through a row of UFC talented killers, and it all starts with Buckley, who has stacked bodies inside the Octagon over the past two years.
