Kamaru Usman has revealed that UFC executive Hunter Campbell is reluctant to book a welterweight title fight between him and champion Islam Makhachev. Despite mutual interest from the fighters, who share the same manager, the promotion has not confirmed the matchup. Usman remains open to alternative bouts if they advance his career goals.
Kamaru Usman, former UFC welterweight champion, expressed frustration over the uncertain status of a potential title fight with current champion Islam Makhachev. Speaking on his Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman detailed conversations with UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell, who responded with a lukewarm 'Maybe not' to the proposed bout. 'The Islam fight was obviously what I wanted and what I felt would have been great not just for me, not just for Islam, but would have been great for the company, would have been great for the world to see that,' Usman said. He noted the back-and-forth negotiations have left the matchup in limbo, with no official announcement on Makhachev's next opponent.
Usman and Makhachev, both managed by Ali Abdelaziz, have publicly supported the fight. Makhachev recently captured the 170-pound title following a successful stint as lightweight champion. However, Usman's recent 1-3 record over his last four fights, including a decision victory over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta—his first win since November 2021—may factor into the UFC's hesitation. During his prior reign, Usman defended the welterweight belt five times before consecutive losses to Leon Edwards.
The UFC has floated other options for Usman, such as a matchup with former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, who lost his title to Khamzat Chimaev in August 2025. 'Other things were presented to me, like potentially ‘DDP’ was presented to me or other guys,' Usman said. 'Listen, there’s one thing about me, when they call and they say this guy or that guy or this guy, I don’t go, ‘Uh, maybe, maybe, maybe,’ no, I say yes. This is the thing with me is it has to be meaningful.' Usman, who once fought at middleweight against Chimaev at UFC 294, emphasized he seeks fights that lead toward another title opportunity.
Contenders like undefeated Ian Machado Garry and Michael Morales are also in consideration, with Garry criticizing Usman's relevance for a title shot. The delay extends to broader scheduling issues, including the UFC White House event on June 14, which lacks a finalized card. 'It’s not just me,' Usman added. 'We don’t understand what’s going on right now.'
