Will Kamaru Usman break the brotherly code by fighting Isreal Adesanya to take his career to the next level?
Kamaru Usman has seen it all at the Welterweight division. He defeated number one contender Jorge Masvidal at UFC 268 to continue his reign in the category.
The Nigerian Nightmare has also defeated four out of the top seven rated fighters in that category.
He has broken all the records at the division just after two years he defeated Tyron Woodley to win the gold belt.
With 15 successive victories, the longest in the history of the welterweight division and five title defences which tied him with St Georges Pierre as the longest consecutive defences in the 165kg category.
Perhaps Kamaru has nothing to prove and can be regarded as the greatest of all time, GOAT in the welterweight division but there is a need not to rest on his oars.
Having 'conquered' his territory the consensus is for him to move his career to the next level and before retiring from the octagon.
The next level includes moving to the next weight category and winning a world title to become a winner in more than a division and probably doing a crossover fight against Canelo Alvarez.
The two options will surely make not only sporting and financial sense but also cement his UFC legacy.
The latter may be for greater fame, and payday but the former is a step up necessary for his career and records.
But there is a snag, his friend and compatriot, Isreal Adesanya rules the next weight category.
He is not willing nor ready to fight Adesanya unless for a 100 million dollar purse, a proposal which may never see the light of day.
Keen followers of the game believe Kamaru has what it takes to defeat Isreal if only he is ready to break the brotherly code and move to the middleweight category and validate his greatest of all-time legacy in the game.
For two former two titles holders, Henry Cejudo believes the only way Kamaru can be compared favourably with St Georges Pierre, the former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion is for Kamaru to win titles at least in two weight categories.
He admonished Kamaru to put friendship aside and go for it for him to be truly considered as the pound-for-pound greatest of all time.
“I’m sure if it’s the African pride, I kind of get that, but I don’t get that,” Cejudo said on “The Triple C & Schmo Show.” “Actually, as a matter of fact, I don’t get that because, to me, it’s all about legacy. Somebody else shortly is going to be able to go through the same run that Kamaru Usman did.
"But the difference is that, can you win a second belt? And can you defend that second belt? And that’s what I want from ‘The Nigerian Nightmare.’ I want him to go up. I want him to fight Izzy (Adesanya), and I just believe he has a perfect style to beat somebody like Izzy because he has wrestling.” said the former champion in two weight categories.
“You’ve already lapped the division, Kamaru Usman,” Cejudo said. “You’ve already beat Colby twice. You’ve already beat Masvidal a couple of times, too. The winner of Masvidal and Edwards, I mean, you’re gonna beat Edwards again. There’s only one take in my side, and that’s saying go up and fight your African brother because this is about legacy.” said Cejudo
Does Kamaru need a second title to validate his GOATship in the welterweight category, even, at the expense of Israel Adesanya? Time will tell.
