In the Tone of Matthew McConaughey: Article Summary
The former dominant force
Kamaru Usman, Africa's first UFC champion, was once the most dominant force in all of mixed martial arts. He had five successful defences of the welterweight title to his name.
Knocked off his perch
However, back-to-back defeats to Brit Leon Edwards have left Usman in a state of uncertainty at welterweight. In his rematch with Edwards, he was knocked out by a Hail Mary head kick after dominating the fight for nearly four rounds.
A move up in weight
Following his second loss to Edwards in March, Usman made a short-notice move up to middleweight to face the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294.
A chance for redemption
The winner of the Usman vs. Chimaev fight will earn the opportunity to challenge newly-crowned middleweight champion Sean Strickland. Usman, who has already defeated Strickland, has the chance to rewrite history and become a two-weight world champion.
Bisping's take
Former middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes that Usman's recent skid does not mean his best days are behind him. At 36 years old, Bisping sees a lot of potential for Usman to inject new life into his career with a victory over Chimaev.
Stepping up on short notice
Usman accepted the fight against Chimaev on just 11 days' notice after Paulo Costa withdrew due to injury. Bisping, who won the belt with only 14 days of preparation, believes that stepping up on short notice can be advantageous for Usman.
A common opponent
Both Usman and Chimaev have fought former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns. While the results of those fights don't guarantee Usman a victory, Bisping believes they can provide some insight into how the fight may unfold.
Overall, the fight between Usman and Chimaev is an opportunity for Usman to change fans' perception and show that he still has what it takes to be a dominant force in mixed martial arts.
