Usman targets ‘double champion’ status ahead of UFC middleweight debut

Kamaru Usman, the Nigerian-American mixed martial artist, says he aims to become a double champion in the UFC ahead of his middleweight debut against Khamzat Chimaev.

Usman will compete in his first-ever middleweight bout against Chimaev at UFC 294 on Saturday.

Chimaev was initially billed to fight Paulo Costa, but the Brazilian was pulled out due to an elbow injury.

The Nigerian Nightmare was drafted as a replacement for Costa on short notice.

Usman had been the UFC welterweight division champion for 1,267 days before Leon Edwards defeated him in 2022. The Nigerian-American also lost the rematch earlier this year.

He moved up a weight class to face Chimaev.

There have been reports that the winner of the UFC 294 bout would get a shot at the middleweight title held by Sean Strickland.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday ahead of his middleweight debut, Usman said he plans to conquer both weight divisions and “throw up some fingers and walk away”.

“It is soul-searching. It is about wanting to feel that excited again. I’ve fought most welterweight contenders twice and won. And people are wondering, ‘What excites us about these fights?’ I think people are excited about this fight,” the Usman said.

“I could go down [to welterweight division] and take that belt back. I mean, what a way to go out. Move up [to middleweight division], grab that belt and go down [to welterweight division] and grab that one too. Then, throw up some fingers and walk away.

“I just told you the plans. Go grab this one real quick and keep it warm before Izzy [Israel Adesanya] comes back, then go down and grab that one too.”

If Usman succeeds in his quest, he will join the illustrious list of fighters who simultaneously have held belts of multiple UFC weight divisions. The list includes fighters like Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier and Amanda Nunes.