Former UFC champion’s manager believes the Nigerian remains one of the toughest fighters in the sport despite recent losses.
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has no intention of walking away from mixed martial arts despite questions surrounding his future, according to his longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz.
The Nigerian-born fighter has endured a difficult spell in recent years, losing four of his last five fights while also dealing with recurring knee problems. However, Abdelaziz believes retirement is not currently on the agenda and insists Usman remains capable of competing with the very best in the UFC.
Speaking about the 39-year-old’s future, Abdelaziz dismissed suggestions that the former champion is nearing the end of his career.
“Kamaru Usman is not going to retire,” he said, stressing that the Nigerian continues to hold his own against elite opposition.
Manager Wants Usman Back at Welterweight
While backing Usman to continue fighting, Abdelaziz admitted he was never convinced that moving up to the middleweight division was the right decision.
He argued that the former champion is naturally better suited to the welterweight class, where he enjoyed one of the most dominant title reigns in UFC history.
According to Abdelaziz, Usman’s performances have shown that he remains highly competitive, even when facing naturally bigger opponents.
He pointed to Usman’s short-notice fight against Khamzat Chimaev and his recent performances as evidence that the Nigerian has continued to challenge some of the sport’s biggest names despite difficult circumstances.
Middleweight Move Presented New Challenges
Usman most recently suffered a unanimous decision defeat to former UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC Oklahoma.
Despite the loss, Abdelaziz believes the size difference between the two fighters played a significant role and maintained that Usman remained competitive throughout the contest.
A return to the welterweight division, he believes, would provide more favourable matchups and offer the former champion the best opportunity to rebuild momentum.
Plenty Still Left to Offer
Usman’s only stoppage defeat in the UFC remains his dramatic knockout loss to Leon Edwards in 2022, a result that ended his long reign as welterweight champion.
Since then, the Nigerian has continued to test himself against some of the toughest names on the UFC roster, reinforcing his reputation as one of the sport’s most durable competitors.
Although his next opponent has yet to be confirmed, Abdelaziz remains convinced that Usman can still compete at the highest level if he returns to his natural weight class.
For now, retirement appears to be off the table as “The Nigerian Nightmare” looks to write another chapter in his UFC career.