Kamaru Usman
Active 2015–present · rated in 4 editions · peak overall 94.0
Scouting report
A fifteen-fight UFC winning streak and five consecutive title defenses define the championship reign of Kamaru "The Nigerian Nightmare" Usman. Born in Auchi, Nigeria, and fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Usman pressed rivals with a wrestling base, a strong cardio engine, and a piston jab, quantified by his 98 Wrestling, 97 Cardio, 95 Fight IQ, and 94 Overall rating.
Peak ratings
By edition
Usman engineered a championship surge from 2018 to 2019, dominating Emil Meek in St. Louis, out-wrestling Demian Maia in Santiago, dominating Rafael dos Anjos over five rounds in Las Vegas, dismantling Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 to capture the UFC Welterweight Championship, and stopping Colby Covington with a fifth-round TKO at UFC 245. His wrestling control and pace are reflected in a 97 Wrestling and 96 Cardio.
Usman established his dominance across 2020 and 2021, defeating Jorge Masvidal on Fight Island by decision and again by second-round knockout in Jacksonville, stopping Gilbert Burns by third-round TKO at UFC 258, and defeating Colby Covington at UFC 268 in Madison Square Garden. His power jab, wrestling dominance, and championship composure justify his 91 Boxing and 98 Wrestling.
After dropping his welterweight belt to Leon Edwards via a last-minute head kick at UFC 278 and losing their London rematch at UFC 286, Usman stepped up on ten days' notice to fight Khamzat Chimaev at middleweight at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi, dropping a majority decision. His composure, takedown defense, and boxing fundamentals anchor his 89 Boxing and 96 Wrestling.
Overall is an editorial rating. It can differ from a simple average of the attributes.
Kamaru Usman: physical dominance with a jab on top
Kamaru Usman won by making everything a little harder for the other man. The jab measured range, the clinch drained energy, and the wrestling kept the pressure on. It is a heavy, physical profile that suits builds needing to win exchanges by force.
Usman attribute by attribute
Boxing. Improved under Trevor Wittman. A stiff jab controls range, and the straight right shattered Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington.
Kickboxing. Basic but punishing. Heavy front kicks to the body drain energy, with the odd low kick, and striking sits behind boxing and wrestling.
Wrestling. Suffocating. Foot stomps, heavy underhooks and chained doubles give him control of the fence.
BJJ. Control rather than finishing. He preferred top position and ground and pound to hunting submissions.
Strength. The clear standout. Other big welterweights were overpowered, and he set the terms of the clinch.
Durability. Iron-chinned until the Leon Edwards head kick. In his prime he shrugged off shots from Gilbert Burns and Covington.
Cardio. An unrelenting work rate. Wrestling, clinching and hard strikes for 25 minutes, without slowing.
Fight IQ. Disciplined. He used the jab when wrestling stalled and wrestled when his striking was challenged.
The trait to take: Strength
He bullied grown men. With this slot your fighter wins the clinch, stuffs takedowns and sets a physical pace.
The trait to skip: Submissions
He had no UFC submission wins until late in his career. A finisher on the mat is not what he offers.
Keep exploring
Closest welterweight profiles to Kamaru Usman, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Islam Makhachevbest wrestling 98 · weakest kickboxing 87
- Georges St-Pierrebest fight iq 99 · weakest strength 87
- Belal Muhammadbest cardio 97 · weakest kickboxing 81
- Khamzat Chimaevbest wrestling 98 · weakest kickboxing 80
- Welterweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Kamaru Usman's strongest attribute, Wrestling.
Draft Kamaru Usman into your build
Kamaru Usman enters the pool on any spin landing on welterweight between 2018 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Kamaru Usman is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Kamaru Usman's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.