A recent announcement by the UFC startled the MMA faithful. They revealed that two previous welterweights of the promotion, Khamzat Chimaev, and Kamaru Usman, would lock horns in the middleweight division of the promotion at UFC 294. Several fans may know that the former faced serious issues while cutting down to the welterweight limit of 170 lbs prior to his fights. This is why the UFC authorities suggested his move up to middleweight themselves. But Usman’s case is nowhere like Chimaev’s.

‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is one of the most successful welterweights in the history of the promotion. He also held the #1 rank in the UFC’s top pound-for-pound fighters list while competing as a welterweight. Amidst such a situation, several fans may have doubts about Usman’s prowess as a middleweight. So let’s take a look at the physical stats of ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ to form an idea about what he would look like amidst the UFC middleweights in the UFC.

Is Kamaru Usman fit to be called a middleweight?

Almost every UFC follower knows about the weight-cutting ritual in MMA. Fighters often fight in a lower weight class than their original weight to have the weight advantage on their side during fights. For this, they cut down their weight to stay within the limit of that weight class. Usman is no exception to this process as well. He used to reduce his weight to 170lbs to fight as a welterweight.

This indicates that Usman’s original weight is more than 170lbs. Well, ‘MMA Mania’ suggests that Usman walks around at 190 to 200 lbs, while the middleweight limit stands at 185 lbs. Hence, it’s quite understandable that ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ can easily opt to fight as a Middleweight if he wishes. But it’s also important to know about his other physical stats to assume his prowess in the Middleweight division of the UFC.

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‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ stands at a stout height of 6 feet (183 cm). Fans may say that it’s a decent height as a UFC middleweight. He also boasts a good reach of 76 inches (193 cm). It’s pertinent to note that Usman boasts a one-inch reach advantage over his Chechen rival despite being two inches shorter than him.

Can Kamaru Usman accomplish a victory in his first-ever UFC Middleweight bout?

Well, a look at the physical stats of ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ has already told us that he has enough to compete as a middleweight. Noted UFC legend, Chael Sonnen, also revealed that Usman used to wrestle under the 184lbs division during his college days. Hence, it can be said that he has handled guys weighing almost equal to UFC middleweights previously.

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Usman also packs some formidable wrestling skills like his rival ‘Borz’. Hence, taking down Usman may require a lot more effort from ‘Borz’. However, one thing that lies concrete is the fact that none of these UFC stars will settle for any half-measures during their UFC 294 showdown. Do you think Usman will be able to add the first stain on Chimaev’s still clean pro-MMA record?