Nigerian UFC Star Kamaru Usman Wants ‘Wonderboy’ Next

Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has set his sights on fighting two-time title contender Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson as he looks to get back in the hunt for the championship.

Usman rose to the top of the welterweight division in 2019 and went on to enjoy successful defences of the 170lb crown against the likes of Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns.

The reign of ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ came to a shocking end a year ago though, as he suffered a sensational defeat to Leon Edwards in the second fight of their trilogy.

Usman appeared to be cruising to another victory as he led on the scorecards heading into the final minute of the fight, but Edwards unleashed a devastating head kick that separated the Nigerian from consciousness and his crown.

Then, when the two men met again back in March, Edwards was again victorious, this time beating Usman via majority decision to cement his spot at the top of the division and send the former champion back to the drawing board.

UFC fans around the world are waiting to see what Usman does next as he tries to regain the crown, and the fighter has now revealed who he would like to face as he tries to get back on track after back-to-back defeats.

“I’ve done everything there is to do,” he told TMZ. “The only guy that, to be honest, that even makes sense right now is ‘Wonderboy’, because he needs an opponent.

“He’s been around for so long, and he’s just that name to where it’s always a good fight. His style is very, very difficult to fight. He’s just one of those names, he’s in my era, that I never really got to fight.”

Leading betting site Stake have Usman as the favourite to win the fight if the powers that be can get it agreed.