Kamaru Usman may need another win to earn another UFC title shot

Kamaru Usman may need another win if he wants another shot at the UFC title. After three straight losses, the former UFC welterweight champion returned to winning ways last weekend at the UFC's Atlanta event.

There, the 38-year-old Usman stopped Joaquin Buckley's winning streak and defeated him by unanimous decision in a performance reminiscent of his best days.

Usman still aims to regain the welterweight throne, which is currently held by Jack Della Maddalena, but lightweight champion Islam Makhachev and several other serious challengers could stand in his way.

Although Usman is among the most famous names in the division, one challenger claims that the "Nigerian Nightmare" cannot jump the queue in the title race, at least not without fighting him first.

The UFC's second-ranked welterweight Sean Brady is on the verge of a title fight after forcing former champion Leon Edwards to submit in a very dominant performance in March.

Usman's win over Buckley

Brady commented on Usman's win over Buckley and his claims about attacking the title, suggesting that the two fight in a first-round contender's bout.

"If he had finished it, he might have had a stronger argument, but Buckley was number seven," Brady said on his podcast The BradyBagz Podcast.

"You're coming off three losses. I know what he's saying, he's the biggest name in the division, but let's say Islam and JDM fight in October. Let's say Islam wins. Then he won't fight again until next year.

"So you're going to wait maybe eighteen months, because Islam won't fight during Ramadan. He might not fight until early or late 2026, and then there's Shavkat (Rahmonov). They say he's still next for the title. So, I don't know."

"To me, either way, I'm going to fight Usman or Ian (Garry).

"It makes sense. That's what I'm here for. Let's not wait." "Let's see who the real number one challenger is," Brady said of a potential fight with Usman.