Kamaru Usman Plans to Return to Welterweight, Hopes to Retire as Double Champ

Kamaru Usman is by no means leaving the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division for good, even as he steps up for a short-notice middleweight debut.

Usman will face the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev on nine days’ notice in the co-main event at UFC 294 on Saturday. While “The Nigerian Nightmare” has no doubt that the clash is essentially a title eliminator, he also hasn’t completely taken his eyes off the 170-pound. weight class.

Usman even has a fairytale storyline in his mind for his retirement, which would be a first in the history of the promotion. The 36-year-old is currently on a two-fight slump, losing his title to Leon Edwards in a shock upset before being emphatically beaten in a rematch.

Usman now wants to win the middleweight title before moving back down to welterweight to reclaim his strap and then hang up his gloves for good.

“No, no, absolutely not,” Usman told TMZ Sports when asked if he’s left the welterweight division for good. “And what a way to go out, what a way to decide that. You know, I might just mic drop. Go grab the middleweight belt, go down, grab the welterweight belt, then mic drop… What a way to go out. I want both. I’ve always wanted champ-champ but what a way to go: get the top one then come back down, no one’s ever done that.”