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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.