Dana White Wants to See Usman Fight Woodley After Dominant Win at ‘TUF 28’ Finale

It wasn’t that long ago that Dana White wasn’t the biggest fan of Kamaru Usman.

The UFC president notably criticized Usman following a win against Emil Meek in January after “The Nigerian Nightmare” revealed he wasn't at full health for the bout in a post-fight interview. White mistook that for Usman saying he wasn’t going 100 percent in the Octagon that night.

“I didn’t love that fight,” White said on Fox Sports 1 that night. “Yeah, he’s a tough guy. Yeah, he can impose his will. But you don’t jump up and start acting like you knocked somebody out and say you only went 30 percent. So what’s that mean? What if you’re on pay-per-view? Do you use 60 percent?”

Since then, Usman has scored back-to-back victories over Demian Maia and Rafael dos Anjos in dominant fashion. Friday’s five-round verdict over dos Anjos, the former lightweight king, was arguably Usman’s most impressive effort to date.

“I haven’t given the kid any credit yet because I felt like he talked too much and didn’t do enough,” White said on Fox Sports 1. “So we put him in there against I guy I have a lot of respect for, a former world champion, RDA. And Usman looked like a stud tonight.”

Now, White can envision Usman jump to the front of the line in the UFC’s crowded welterweight division. Usman’s nine-fight winning streak is current the fourth longest in the promotion.

“He actually got stronger as the fight went on, throwing tons of punches, kicks, wrestling. Stood up and went toe-to-toe with him a few times. I was impressed,” White said. I’m telling you, I want to see him fight [Tyron] Woodley now. I want to see the Woodley fight. That’s what I want, but we’ll see.”

For months, it has appeared that Woodley’s next title defense would come against Colby Covington. Covington defeated dos Anjos in June to claim the interim 170-pound belt, but was stripped of the title when he wasn’t healthy enough to face Woodley in September.

I don’t have any answers yet…Covington’s obviously there,” White said. “If you just fought and you came off a great performance against a stud like RDA, I’m looking at you. Covington hasn’t fought in a while, he got injured. He didn’t defend his title. I used to talk ton of smack about Usman, and in one fight this guy turned me around. It makes me excited to see the Woodley fight.”

Not surprisingly, Usman tends to agree with that sentiment.

“They can’t deny me,” he said on FS1. “Anybody else they throw at me I’ll just beat them up. I think it’s about time for me to get that title shot.”

Usman nonetheless realizes that Woodley vs. Covington could still very well be next. If it is, “The Nigerian Nightmare” would relish the opportunity to face either opponent down the road.

“Of course I would Tyron to win because Tyron’s been a legend. He’s kind of been defending that belt for a while,” Usman said. “He’s really solidified his place as the current champion. I would love to be the guy to dethrone him. But let’s be honest. It’s gonna be fun as hell for me to beat the living s—t out of Colby Covington. It doesn’t matter, whoever walks away with that belt I’ll be waiting for them. I’ll be the next guy to really beat the s—t out of them. It doesn’t matter.”