Daniel Cormier thinks a potential matchup between Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker would be a big fight that both fighters deserve, allowing Usman to continue his career in the middleweight division and giving Whittaker a formidable opponent.
Kamaru Usman is considering his next move in his career and Daniel Cormier believes he has the perfect matchup in mind to help the former UFC champion bounce back. Cormier, on ESPN’s DC & RC show, expressed his interest in a potential fight between Usman and former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. Usman recently expressed his desire to compete in another fight in the division after his close loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294.
Cormier believes that both Usman and Whittaker deserve to be featured in significant fights, even if they are not fighting for the championship. He believes this matchup would provide the excitement and level of competition that both fighters deserve. He tapped all the way into the idea of Usman vs. Whittaker and expressed his support for the fight.
Usman and Whittaker are both eager to get back on the winning track. Usman has suffered three consecutive losses, including the decision loss to Chimaev and two title fight defeats against Leon Edwards. Whittaker, who initially gained recognition as a welterweight on The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes, has lost two out of his last three fights, including a lopsided loss to Dricus Du Plessis.
Cormier’s co-host, Ryan Clark, also endorsed the idea of Usman vs. Whittaker. Clark emphasized that this fight would give Usman the opportunity to have a training camp at 185 and would not force Whittaker to face an opponent he has already fought or someone lower in the rankings. He believes it would be a chance for Usman to establish himself in the middleweight division for the remainder of his career.
Overall, Cormier and Clark both believe that a matchup between Usman and Whittaker would be a significant fight that would provide a platform for the fighters to showcase their skills and potentially get back on track in their respective careers.