UFC CEO Dana White: Kamaru Usman's Career Not Over Despite Loss

UFC CEO Dana White has asserted that Kamaru Usman's fighting career is far from over, even after his defeat to Dricus Du Plessis in Oklahoma City. Usman, the former welterweight champion, endured a grueling five-round bout against the larger Du Plessis, absorbing significant damage but managing to remain conscious throughout the fight.

The judges ultimately scored the bout in favor of Du Plessis with scores of 50–45, 49–46, and 49–46. Despite the decisive loss, White expressed optimism about Usman's future, stating, "He's still got it. It's not like, ‘Oh, Usman’s done and he should retire.’ He had a great fight tonight."

White advised Usman to go home, recover from his injuries, and then contemplate his next move. He acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with the Nigerian fighter. "He's got to go home, rest, heal up, and figure out what's next," White said.

Usman's performance, particularly in the fifth round, showed resilience, though Du Plessis came close to finishing the fight multiple times. The size difference between the two fighters was evident, leading to speculation about Usman's potential retirement. However, Usman himself questioned the judges' scoring and expressed willingness to fight at middleweight again.

Retirement rumors have followed Usman due to his inactivity in recent years. After a significant layoff following a loss to Khamzat Chimaev and another year-long absence after a win over Joaquin Buckley, this middleweight fight, which some analysts deemed ill-advised due to the weight class mismatch, has further fueled these discussions. While White maintains Usman is not finished, a fight analyst noted that his options are becoming increasingly limited, though a return to welterweight could still be a possibility.

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I don’t know. Obviously a great fight, fighting a much bigger guy, and he’s got a great chin. He’s still got it. It’s not like, ‘Oh, Usman’s done and he should retire.’ He had a great fight tonight. So I don’t know. He’s got to go home, rest, heal up, and figure out what’s next.