Michael Bisping: Kamaru Usman faces bleak future with UFC Atlanta loss to Joaquin Buckley
Michael Bisping questions former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman's fighting future if he's unable to rebound at UFC on ESPN 69.
Usman (20-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) faces knockout artist Joaquin Buckley (21-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) in the June 14 main event at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Usman will look to snap a three-fight losing skid. He hasn't competed since losing a short-notice fight to No. 1 middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev in October 2023. If Usman fails to stop the streaking Buckley, Bisping thinks he needs to consider retirement.
"If Kamaru Usman loses this fight, will that be the end of his career? I'm not throwing any shade," Bisping said on his YouTube channel. "I've got nothing but the greatest respect and deep admiration for Kamaru Usman. He's a solid human being, he's an incredible fighter, he's been a great ambassador for this sport. However, 37 years old, hasn't been too active, and then if you lose four in a row, maybe it's time to think about walking away from the sport.
"As I say, I don't say that lightly. He's a great guy, but we know Joaquin Buckely is coming into this one revved up. This is the biggest fight of his career. They always are, by the way. But this one is the big one. This one is the final hurdle, this is the one that gets him a title fight, maybe if he's victorious. He's only 30 years old."
Prior to losing three fights in a row, Usman had defended his welterweight title five times. Many could argue that Usman's losses aren't a clear indication that his best days are behind him after he was en route to a dominant decision over Leon Edwards at UFC 278 before getting caught with a last-minute head kick. He lost a close decision to Edwards in their trilogy at UFC 286, then impressed in a majority decision loss to the dominant Chimaev at UFC 294.
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