Usman calls for title fight after thorough domination of Maia
Kamaru Usman is keeping to his word, and he's coming for that strap.
Usman continued his climb up the welterweight ladder by taking down No. 5-ranked Demian Maia in convincing fashion Saturday night at UFC Fight Night in Chile. And though he eschewed calling out any specific opponent immediately after the unanimous decision victory, he made his future plans known at the post-fight press conference.
"I think I should fight for the belt next," Usman said.
He and the holder of that belt, Tyron Woodley, have already faced a common opponent in Maia, whom Woodley defeated with a five-round unanimous decision in July. Usman did the same Saturday, and believes he did it better.
"I just dominated (Maia) better than Tyron Woodley. Tyron ran from him the whole fight. Tyron threw, what, the fewest strikes in a championship fight ever? And I just went out and I dominated the guy from start to finish," Usman said.
On Saturday, Usman scored 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46 on the scorecards against a man he considers the "most dangerous guy in the division." Now undefeated in the UFC after eight fights, he's looking past the contenders for the interim welterweight title - No. 2-ranked Rafael dos Anjos and No. 3-ranked Colby Covington - and instead toward the top of the list. Woodley is still considered the king of the division, while Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson sits No. 1 in the rankings and will fight No. 8-ranked Darren Till on May 27.
"It's either Woodley or the winner of Till-Wonderboy. That's it," Usman added.