Kamaru Usman

Usman's move up to middleweight went badly against a former champion in Dricus du Plessis, who beat him to the punch from the opening bell and hurt him several times over five rounds. Usman warmed into the fight and had stretches of success, but never sustained the wrestling control that has defined his best work, and dropped a lopsided decision on scores of 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46.

Key moments

• Was wobbled by a Du Plessis right hand in the opening round.
• Absorbed repeated knees up the middle through the first half of the fight.
• Found moments as the fight wore on but could not convert them into control time.

Usman returned in Atlanta and beat Joaquin Buckley by unanimous decision over five rounds, a result that halted his skid and reminded everyone what his controlled wrestling pace still looks like in a main event. The win mattered because it came after a long break and against a dangerous younger finisher.

Key moments

• Won a five-round unanimous decision in the main event.
• Snapped the three-fight losing streak that had followed the Leon Edwards title loss.
• Showed he could still drag a dangerous opponent into a veteran-style control fight over 25 minutes.

Usman stepped in against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 and lost a majority decision after three rounds, but the performance still restored some of the urgency around his name because he stayed competitive immediately at a higher weight. Even in defeat, it looked more like an elite veteran answer than a fade-out.

Key moments

• Lost a majority decision over three rounds.
• Took the fight at middleweight against another title-level opponent.
• Made the bout close enough that one judge saw the score even.

The trilogy with Leon Edwards ended with another close scorecard loss, this time a majority decision over five rounds at UFC 286. That second straight defeat to Edwards closed the championship chapter that Usman had controlled for years at welterweight.

Key moments

• Lost a majority decision after five rounds.
• Failed to regain the UFC welterweight title in the trilogy fight.
• Dropped back-to-back fights to the same opponent after years on top of the division.

Usman was minutes away from another title defense before Leon Edwards knocked him out with a head kick late in round five at UFC 278. It remains the hinge result of his late career because it ended a long championship reign in one sudden exchange.

Key moments

• Lost the UFC welterweight title by fifth-round knockout.
• The head-kick finish came at 4:04 of round five.
• Turned a fight he had largely controlled into one of the biggest comeback endings in recent UFC history.

Usman defended the welterweight belt against Colby Covington by unanimous decision in a hard five-round rematch at UFC 268. It was another championship performance built on control, pace and composure rather than one dramatic finishing moment.

Key moments

• Defended the UFC welterweight title over five rounds.
• Beat Covington for the second time in championship fights.
• Went the full 25 minutes in another elite rivalry bout.

Usman finished the rematch with Jorge Masvidal in emphatic fashion, knocking him out early in the second round at UFC 261. It stands as one of the signature moments of his championship run because it added a clean highlight finish to a reign built mostly on control.

Key moments

• Won by second-round knockout.
• The finish came at 1:02 of round two.
• Delivered one of the defining title defenses of his welterweight reign.

After early adversity, Usman settled the Burns fight down and stopped him with punches in round three. The result mattered because it showed he could recover mid-fight and still close a title defense with authority.

Key moments

• Won by third-round TKO.
• The stoppage came 34 seconds into round three.
• Retained the UFC welterweight title against a former teammate and top contender.

Usman handled Masvidal over five rounds on Fight Island and retained the welterweight title by unanimous decision. It was the more methodical first chapter of the rivalry before the knockout rematch the next spring.

Key moments

• Won a five-round unanimous decision.
• Defended the UFC welterweight title on Fight Island.
• Set up the rematch that ended in the 2021 knockout.

Usman and Covington pushed a brutal pace for nearly five rounds before Usman finally got the stoppage late in the fifth. It was one of the hardest title defenses of his career and one of the clearest validations of his championship level.

Key moments

• Won by fifth-round TKO.
• The finish came at 4:10 of round five.
• Defeated a top rival in one of the division's defining title fights.

Usman took the title from Tyron Woodley with a dominant five-round unanimous decision at UFC 235. The fight was the official turning point from contender to champion and set the tone for the long reign that followed.

Key moments

• Won a unanimous decision over five rounds.
• Captured the UFC welterweight title.
• Controlled the fight from start to finish against the reigning champion.

Against former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos, Usman won all five rounds and proved he was ready for the top of the welterweight division. The result was the final eliminator-style win before his shot at Woodley.

Key moments

• Won a unanimous decision over five rounds.
• Beat a former UFC champion in a title-eliminator level fight.
• Moved directly into title contention with the performance.

Usman outworked Maia over five rounds in his first UFC main event and kept the grappling specialist from ever taking control. It was another step in the long climb toward the championship belt.

Key moments

• Won a unanimous decision over five rounds.
• Handled a veteran title challenger in his first UFC headliner.
• Extended the UFC winning streak with another control-heavy performance.

Usman kept the Meek fight structured over three rounds and won a unanimous decision to open 2018. It was not flashy, but it was another disciplined UFC result in the middle of his long unbeaten run.

Key moments

• Won a unanimous decision after three rounds.
• Opened 2018 with another UFC victory.
• Kept building the streak that carried him into contender status.

Usman flattened Moraes with a first-round punch and added one of the cleaner early knockouts on his UFC record. The finish helped show that his rise was not built on wrestling control alone.

Key moments

• Won by first-round knockout.
• The finish came at 2:48 of round one.
• Delivered one of the sharpest striking stoppages of his UFC run.

Usman beat Strickland over three rounds before Strickland's later rise at middleweight changed how that win looked in retrospect. At the time it was simply another tough UFC opponent handled with control and pace.

Key moments

• Won a unanimous decision after three rounds.
• Beat a future elite UFC name before that run fully developed.
• Extended his UFC streak with another measured performance.

Usman took Alves over three rounds and added another unanimous decision to his UFC climb. The fight continued the pattern that defined his rise: control first, clean rounds, no room for volatility.

Key moments

• Won a unanimous decision after three rounds.
• Handled another dangerous welterweight prospect cleanly.
• Kept his UFC momentum moving toward the rankings.

Yakovlev lasted the full distance, but Usman still banked a clear three-round decision. It was another quiet, professional win during the stretch before his name became unavoidable in the title conversation.

Key moments

• Won a unanimous decision after three rounds.
• Logged another controlled UFC welterweight performance.
• Extended the early UFC winning streak.

Years before their title trilogy, Usman beat Leon Edwards by unanimous decision over three rounds. That early meeting became more significant with time because it marked the first chapter of the rivalry that later changed his legacy.

Key moments

• Won a unanimous decision after three rounds.
• Beat Leon Edwards in their first UFC meeting.
• Started a rivalry that later returned at championship level.

Usman earned his first UFC win by arm-triangle choke in the second round against Hayder Hassan. It remains the lone submission victory on his official pro record and marked a clean start to his Octagon career.

Key moments

• Won by second-round submission.
• The arm-triangle choke came at 1:19 of round two.
• Collected his first UFC victory in his official debut.

Usman stopped Marcus Hicks at the end of round two and kept his regional rise moving in Legacy FC. The result helped cement him as a serious prospect before the UFC call came.

Key moments

• Won by second-round TKO.
• The stoppage came at 5:00 of round two.
• Added another regional finish before the UFC signing.

Lovato pushed Usman into the third round, but Usman still forced the stoppage with punches just over a minute into the frame. It showed that even in longer regional fights he could keep building toward a finish.

Key moments

• Won by third-round TKO.
• The finish came at 1:04 of round three.
• Closed a longer Legacy FC bout with a late stoppage.

Usman ran through Steven Rodriguez in the first round and added another quick Legacy FC finish. It was part of the stretch when his prospect stock was rising quickly on the regional scene.

Key moments

• Won by first-round TKO.
• The stoppage came at 1:31 of round one.
• Kept the pre-UFC winning streak rolling.

Abdullah lasted most of the first round, but Usman still found the finish before the horn with punches. It was another regional win that kept his early record trending sharply upward.

Key moments

• Won by first-round TKO.
• The finish came at 3:49 of round one.
• Added another stoppage to his pre-UFC run.

Caceres handed Usman the first loss on his record with a rear-naked choke in the opening round. The defeat stands out because he rebuilt from it completely and barely lost again for years afterward.

Key moments

• Lost by first-round submission.
• The rear-naked choke came at 3:47 of round one.
• Marked one of the very few losses on his professional record.

Usman closed the David Glover fight late in round two with a TKO and started building the regional momentum that would carry him to the UFC. It was an early example of his ability to wear opponents down before finishing them.

Key moments

• Won by second-round TKO.
• The stoppage came at 4:50 of round two.
• Helped launch the long winning run that followed.