Nigeria-born UFC fighter Kamaruddin aka Kamaru Usman defeated former champion Rafael Dos Anjos in the most dominant fashion at Ultimate Fighter finale on Saturday, scoring his 9th consecutive victory with the promotion and his 2nd against a ranked UFC counterpart.
Anjos, a UFC veteran who holds a 28-11 record, is a former UFC Lightweight champion and has faced some of the best contestants throughout his career with the top MMA promotion. He has faced names like current Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson, Robbie Lawler, Donald Cerrone and was scheduled to fight Conor McGregor, but the fight was called off due to injury to the Brazilian, who was the then champion.
https://www.twitter.com/ufc/status/1068745888766414848
Usman, who now is 14-1, not only beat but dominated Anjos during the 25-minute fight, with each round identically the same. Though Anjos is a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he had no answer to Usman’s crushing wrestling except for a couple of submission attempts that did not do quite well either.
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In each of the 5 rounds, Usman landed multiple takedowns and vicious ground-and-pound. More so, he was getting the better of the stand-up exchanges too and looked levels ahead of the Brazilian veteran. He was so brilliant that one of the judges scored the contest an overwhelming 50-43.
With the win, Usman has made his point as the number one contender with only Colby Covington ahead due to the interim belt. The Nigerian was also asked about current Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, but he said he was tired of talking and that now is the time for some action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2MRiBDs9xI
But does he deserve the title shot?
He most definitely does. Not only because he has dominated almost everyone, but also because he has not been tested yet and there are only a few Welterweights that can match the Nigerian Nightmare, one of them being the champ himself; Tyron Woodley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB572Vffcqw
MMA community on social media is also actively sharing their opinions regarding Usman, his performance and if he deserves the title shot. Here are some of the reactions.
'He is a problem for anyone at 170'
https://www.twitter.com/RyanMcKinnell/status/1068748428090339328
'Something majorly wrong if he does not fight winner of Woodley/Covington'
https://www.twitter.com/shaunalshatti/status/1068747159619530752
'25 minutes of absolute domination'
https://www.twitter.com/Jordan_Patu/status/1068747430328381440
'Absolutely should get the next title shot'
https://www.twitter.com/DamonMartin/status/1068754546455924736
Title shot? 'Unquestionable'
https://www.twitter.com/CChristieMMA/status/1068746979939950593
With UFC’s Welterweight division being one of the most stacked divisions in the promotion, champion Tyron Woodley might have his work cut out, especially when athletes like Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington are itching for a fight. Also, with guys like Stephen Thompson, Darren Till and the addition of Olympian Ben Askren, there would surely be some fun fights in the future.
For now, this is Usman’s moment and only he should be talked about.
Do you think Usman deserves a title shot? Write in the comments section below
Anjos, a UFC veteran who holds a 28-11 record, is a former UFC Lightweight champion and has faced some of the best contestants throughout his career with the top MMA promotion. He has faced names like current Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, Tony Ferguson, Robbie Lawler, Donald Cerrone and was scheduled to fight Conor McGregor, but the fight was called off due to injury to the Brazilian, who was the then champion.
https://www.twitter.com/ufc/status/1068745888766414848
Usman, who now is 14-1, not only beat but dominated Anjos during the 25-minute fight, with each round identically the same. Though Anjos is a 3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he had no answer to Usman’s crushing wrestling except for a couple of submission attempts that did not do quite well either.
Kamaru Usman throws a left hook as Rafael Dos Anjos tries to avoid
In each of the 5 rounds, Usman landed multiple takedowns and vicious ground-and-pound. More so, he was getting the better of the stand-up exchanges too and looked levels ahead of the Brazilian veteran. He was so brilliant that one of the judges scored the contest an overwhelming 50-43.
With the win, Usman has made his point as the number one contender with only Colby Covington ahead due to the interim belt. The Nigerian was also asked about current Welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, but he said he was tired of talking and that now is the time for some action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2MRiBDs9xI
But does he deserve the title shot?
He most definitely does. Not only because he has dominated almost everyone, but also because he has not been tested yet and there are only a few Welterweights that can match the Nigerian Nightmare, one of them being the champ himself; Tyron Woodley.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vB572Vffcqw
MMA community on social media is also actively sharing their opinions regarding Usman, his performance and if he deserves the title shot. Here are some of the reactions.
'He is a problem for anyone at 170'
https://www.twitter.com/RyanMcKinnell/status/1068748428090339328
'Something majorly wrong if he does not fight winner of Woodley/Covington'
https://www.twitter.com/shaunalshatti/status/1068747159619530752
'25 minutes of absolute domination'
https://www.twitter.com/Jordan_Patu/status/1068747430328381440
'Absolutely should get the next title shot'
https://www.twitter.com/DamonMartin/status/1068754546455924736
Title shot? 'Unquestionable'
https://www.twitter.com/CChristieMMA/status/1068746979939950593
With UFC’s Welterweight division being one of the most stacked divisions in the promotion, champion Tyron Woodley might have his work cut out, especially when athletes like Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington are itching for a fight. Also, with guys like Stephen Thompson, Darren Till and the addition of Olympian Ben Askren, there would surely be some fun fights in the future.
For now, this is Usman’s moment and only he should be talked about.
Do you think Usman deserves a title shot? Write in the comments section below