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Just over two years ago, Nigeria boasted two UFC world champions. The first, Israel Adesanya, longtime middleweight king and seemingly on course to pass Anderson Silva’s record for most consecutive 185-pound title defenses. The second, Kamaru Usman, champion of the welterweight division and well on course to rival Canadian icon Georges St. Pierre in the conversation of 170-pound GOATs. However, both are now without gold.
Usman was the first to lose his crown. He was stunned by Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022 in Salt Lake City, when the Englishman found a head kick from the gods to knock out the longtime champion, despite trailing on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage. He then went on to successfully defend the title in a rematch between the pair, securing a razor-thin majority decision in March of last year at the O2 Arena in London. And the first Stylebender wasn’t far behind.
Adesanya then lost his title in November of 2022 after being shockingly knocked out by longtime rival Alex Pereira. He would regain the gold with a knockout of his own six months later, before dropping the title once again to brash American Sean Strickland last September. He hasn’t fought since.
The UFC is making blockbuster fights throughout the summer. Online UFC odds providers have priced both Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler at -190 for their upcoming showdown in Las Vegas on June 30th, while Islam Makhachev is set to defend his lightweight title against Dustin Poirier four weeks prior. But what of Nigeria’s former champions? Both men are without fights at present, but here’s who we think they could face next throughout the latter half of 2024.
Israel Adesanya’s Road Ahead
Israel Adesanya is known for his striking precision and dynamic fighting style, but he now once again stands at a crossroads that could redefine his legacy. A potential bout that has the MMA community buzzing is the Last Style Bender stepping up in weight to challenge Alex Pereira for the Light Heavyweight Title in a quadrilateral fight for the ages. Since the pair last faced off, Poatan has gone on to become a two-weight world champion by knocking out Jiří Procházka and then successfully defending his title with another knockout victory against Jamahal Hill.
However, the fight that makes the most sense – and the most money – is yet another bout against his nemesis. The Nigerian-born Kiwi and the Brazilian have a storied past that rivals any blood feud in UFC history. Pereira won the pair’s first contest inside the kickboxing ring, before knocking out Adesanya once more inside the Octagon. But Adesanya would then get his redemption with a knockout victory of his own, and a trilogy fight – inside the Octagon at least – at light heavyweight, is certain to garner attention.
This narrative injects a personal vendetta into the mix, elevating the stakes beyond the belt. For Adesanya, this is an opportunity to avenge his losses and prove his evolution as a fighter. The key to victory lies in his ability to adapt his striking game and manage the weight difference without sacrificing speed or endurance.
Should he opt to remain within his kingdom of the middleweight division, then Adesanya could attempt to retake his throne against current middleweight king Dricus Du Plessis. The South African looked to be on a collision course with the Last Style Bender, prompting him to go on a profanity-riddled rant inside the Octagon following a Du Plessis’ victory last July. However, Adesanya dropped the title to Sean Strickland, who was then himself dethroned by DDP. The path seems clear for the two to compete, but with Adesanya as challenger rather than champion.
Kamaru Usman’s Path Forward
While Israel Adesanya may well have two possible championships he could fight for, Kamaru Usman has precisely zero. After twice losing to Leon Edwards, a third title bout – and fourth overall – between the two looks unlikely.
The Nigerian Nightmare last fought in October 2023, where he faced the avoided Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight on short notice. Despite being dominated in the opening round, Usman battled back in the second and third and many considered him to be unlucky in dropping a majority decision loss. Since then, the former welterweight champion has stated that he would like to rematch with the Chechan star, but this time in a five-round affair He is also thought to want to battle his recent adversary at welterweight, rather than middleweight. However, that looks unlikely.
The problem for Usman is that Chimev is scheduled to face off with former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker at the UFC’s first-ever show in Saudi Arabia on June 23rd. Should he win that, then he will most certainly be in line for a middleweight title shot against Dricus Du Plessis if the South African can cling on to the title. With that being said, that may well open the door for a potential clash between Usman and Whittaker.
The 36-year-old veteran recently stated that he felt comfortable at middleweight and that remaining in the division is a possibility. So, a clash with the loser of Whittaker vs Chimaev is surely the option to take.
