Kamaru Usman’s future in mixed martial arts has become a major talking point after his latest defeat at UFC Fight Night 281.
The former UFC welterweight champion entered the event looking to build momentum following a victory over Joaquin Buckley at another UFC Fight Night on ESPN in June. Instead, Dricus du Plessis controlled the action over five rounds in Oklahoma City and secured a unanimous decision victory.
The result marked Usman’s fourth loss in his last five fights and raised fresh questions about whether the former champion will continue competing.
Usman Reflects on His Next Step
Instagram | usman84kg | Usman is seriously considering retirement and will make his final decision after consulting his team.
Following the loss, Usman admitted that retirement is now a serious topic of discussion. Speaking on “Pound 4 Pound,” he explained that the next decision will come after careful conversations with his coaches and team.
“Listen, I’m just right now I have to just sit with the coaches, sit with the team, assess kind of everything, and assess the place where I’m at in my career, and just overall see if it’s worth continuing to do this,” Usman said.
He also emphasized the pride he takes in representing those around him.
“Because listen, I’ve never really gone out there and not represented them appropriately,” he added while speaking about his coaches and training team.
Those comments suggest that the decision will depend not only on recent results but also on where he believes he stands physically and mentally at this stage of his career.
A Career Defined by Success
Usman’s career remains one of the most accomplished in UFC welterweight history. After beginning his professional MMA journey with a 1-1 record, he put together an incredible 19-fight winning streak.
During that run, he captured the UFC Welterweight Championship and successfully defended the title against Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal twice each.
That dominant stretch came to an end in August 2022 when Leon Edwards defeated Usman at UFC 278, ending his championship reign. A rematch at UFC 286 in London also ended in Edwards’ favor, preventing Usman from reclaiming the title.
The setbacks continued with a loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023, followed by a recent unanimous decision defeat to Dricus du Plessis at UFC Fight Night 281.
Fans Share Mixed Reactions
Instagram | usman84kg | Kamaru Usman turned a rocky career start into one of the most dominant championship runs in UFC welterweight history.
Usman’s remarks quickly sparked discussion across X, where opinions were divided. Some fans believed retirement would be the right decision after such a successful career, while others argued he still has the ability to compete at a high level.
One commenter wrote, “I think DDP and Strickland are the only two middleweights Usman loses to.”
Another posted, “He needs to retire before someone knocks him out again. Dricus took pity on him.”
A different commenter said the welterweight and middleweight divisions now have “too many killers.” The commenter believed Usman would struggle to land “big money fights” without another championship run. The same person also suggested that Usman should continue competing only if he wants to serve as “the liaison for the new generation of fighters at 170/185.”
At 39, Kamaru Usman has reached a defining stage of his career. His professional record stands at 21-5. That record reflects years of success at the highest level of MMA. Usman is widely regarded as one of the greatest welterweights in UFC history, alongside Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes.
Whether he decides to continue fighting or retire, his legacy is already secure. The next step will likely come after discussions with his coaches and team. That decision could shape the final chapter of an already remarkable career.
