Kamaru Usman returned to action at UFC Atlanta with a performance reminiscent of his earlier form. This raises questions about his position in the highly competitive welterweight rankings.
Although Usman defeated top-10 contender Joaquin Buckley, his re-entry into the rankings isn`t straightforward. Usman was removed from the rankings due to inactivity, having last fought at welterweight over two years ago. During this time, a new wave of contenders, including Shavkat Rakhmonov, Sean Brady, Ian Machado Garry, and Michael Morales, have risen through the ranks with significant wins.
Is it fair for Usman to leapfrog these fighters who have been actively competing and winning in his absence? We also can`t forget Leon Edwards, who holds two victories over Usman in UFC championship bouts.
The consensus from our panel is that, yes, Usman is back in the 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 his impressive performance on Saturday, his decorated history in the welterweight division, and even how competitive he remained during his recent three-fight skid. Despite being 38 years old, the version of Usman seen in Atlanta appeared capable of challenging any fighter in the division, including the current champion, Jack Della Maddalena.
Usman claims he`s waiting for the outcome of the still-unscheduled fight between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev (MMA Fighting`s Pound-for-Pound king), but he should seriously consider booking a grudge match against Belal Muhammad. If he can deliver a performance against Muhammad similar to his win over Buckley, it would be hard for many to argue that the all-time great welterweight doesn`t deserve one final opportunity at the championship gold.
Percy Harlow