Kamaru Usman marked his return with a classic performance at UFC Atlanta, picking up a significant win. This raises the immediate question: where does this place him within the highly competitive welterweight rankings?
While Usman defeated top-10 contender Joaquin Buckley, his re-entry into the rankings isn`t simply a matter of replacing Buckley. Usman had previously exited the rankings (where he was positioned at No. 4) due to a period of over two years of inactivity in the welterweight division before Saturday`s bout. During his absence, the division saw considerable activity, with a new wave of contenders establishing themselves, including fighters like Shavkat Rakhmonov, Sean Brady, Ian Machado Garry, and Michael Morales.
The debate arises whether it`s equitable for Usman to bypass these fighters who have been actively securing important victories while he was away. Furthermore, his history with Leon Edwards, who holds two championship wins over Usman, also factors into the discussion.
In essence, the decision is made: Yes, Usman has rejoined the welterweight top 5. He is positioned behind Rakhmonov and Brady but ahead of Garry and the undefeated Morales. Ultimately, the panel found it difficult to overlook the quality of his performance on Saturday, his extensive history in the 170-pound division, and how competitive he remained even during his recent three-fight slump. Despite being 38 years old, the form Usman displayed in Atlanta suggests he can still pose a serious challenge to anyone in the division, including potentially the current champion, Jack Della Maddalena.
Usman has indicated his desire to wait for the outcome of the planned fight between Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev (identified by the publication as the top pound-for-pound fighter). However, a compelling alternative fight would be the anticipated grudge match against Belal Muhammad. Should Usman deliver a performance against Muhammad comparable to his recent win over Buckley, few would argue against the idea that the all-time great welterweight deserves another shot at the championship belt.
