UFC 286 is right around the corner and fans couldn’t be more excited to witness one of the most stacked cards of the year so far. In the main event, Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards looks to repeat history as he faces ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Kamaru Usman for the third time in the Octagon. This will be the first numbered PPV event that the UK hosts after UFC 204.
While the 35-year-old might not be the best with mic skills, he sure does have a chance to back his once #1 P4P ranking. Kamaru has been through some real killers in the promotion’s toughest division. He has secured wins over the likes of Gilbert Burns, RDA, Tyron Woodley, Colby Covington, and Jorge Masvidal. Not many can put these names on their resume’s win column.
The P4P king never forgets his first love 🤼‍♂️ ❤️ (via @Usman84kg) pic.twitter.com/SKSKX1MSrQ
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 4, 2022
With the UFC 278 loss, came a lot of other unwanted loads to carry as well. The devastating head kick not only put the Nigerian native in internet mockery forefront, but it also shoved him off his top position in the pound-for-pound rankings. Also, it snapped his 19-fight win streak, a feat he took over nine years to build.
Will Kamaru Usman retire if he loses at UFC 286?
Without a doubt, the Texas resident is coming into the battle this weekend with all the required adjustments. But as they say, all it takes an opponent is a puncher’s chance for even the greatest to fall. Whether Leon repeats history or Kamaru silences the enemy territory, London’s O2 Arena will be a sight to behold come Saturday.
Most MMA fighters sign up for the profession for two reasons, either they want to prove they’re the best in the sport or they want to earn “big money fights” for a comfortable retirement. Fortunately for Kamaru, he has earned his top spot in both the aforementioned places. Not only did Usman once reign as the #1 P4P king, but he has also garnered quite a few million dollars through his headlining PPVs.
Kamaru Usman has supplanted Jon Jones as the top men's pound for pound fighter in the newly released UFC rankings. pic.twitter.com/bCC2EBLJj6
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 28, 2021
Not many welterweights can say that their in-Octagon work stands head-to-head against the likes of GSP. UFC president Dana White once dubbed Kamaru “the greatest welterweight ever” in a presser. Earlier this week, Leon Edwards made comments about opening the door for Usman’s retirement.
When asked to respond, Kamaru said, “Oh, he’s going to open a door for me, because I’m the king. He’s going to open the door for me to walk through,”
He further clarifies, “I am on my way out. I don’t want to get punched in the face forever. That is very, very true. I’m not trying to do this for another 10 years, absolutely not. In that sense, yeah, I am on my way out. But I’ll leave when I’m good, well, and ready.”
Monetary-wise, The 35-year-old is doing just fine. Having raked in staggering numbers in his last 6-7 pay-per-views, Kamaru has made quite a fortune. And as per a GQ Sports episode, Kamaru mentions being involved in real estate investments along with his brother. This goes to show he has avenues waiting for him outside of fighting, “to diversify the portfolio,” in his words.
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