Kamaru Usman believes he ‘for sure’ locked up the next Welterweight title shot: ‘Who else?’

He’s back!

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman completely dominated Joaquin Buckley, winning a unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Atlanta last night (Sat., June 14, 2025) from inside State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.

Before the fight, Usman suggested and planted a seed that a matchup with former Lightweight champion Islam Makhachev would be a “blockbuster” event. Following his dominant performance, he’s doubling down, arguing his win warrants a title shot.

“Let’s be honest, I’m the biggest name in the division, and this is about entertainment- the UFC is an entertainment company,” Usman told reporters during the UFC Atlanta post-fight press conference (watch here). “If you want to make the biggest fight, it’s going to be [me] vs. the winner of JDM and Islam. If Islam pulls that one out, former pound-for-pound vs. current pound-for-pound, who doesn’t pay for that?”

A reporter straight up asked him if his win over Buckley earned him an immediate title shot.

“Oh yeah, for sure,” Usman said. “I mean, you don’t feel like that? Who else?”

While “The Nigerian Nightmare” makes a strong case, and the UFC often favors former champions for title shots, other welterweight contenders, like Shavkat Rakhmonov and Sean Brady, are equally deserving.

He was asked about a potential fight with Belal Muhammad because of their bad blood, and he didn’t even acknowledge him, and seemed not to “Remember the Name.”

For more UFC Atlanta results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.