5 UFC welterweights who could defeat Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman is arguably the most dominant fighter in the UFC today. He's currently riding a 19-fight win streak, having claimed the likes of Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, Gilbert Burns, Tyron Woodley, and Demian Maia along the way.
His wrestling remains impregnable, with even NCAA Division I standout Colby Covington being unable to wrestle him.
Meanwhile, Kamaru Usman's striking — his jab, especially — has undergone a vast improvement due to the time he spent sharpening his boxing with Trevor Whitman.
Yet, 'The Nigerian Nightmare' is not unbeatable. There are gaps in both his offensive and defensive striking, and the fundamental role his wrestling plays in creating openings for his striking and vice versa can be exploited.
Thus, some welterweights possess the skill-set to defeat the Nigerian. Some of them, he has already faced. However, others have not yet crossed paths with the current UFC welterweight champion. This list cites 5 welterweights capable of defeating Kamaru Usman.
#5 Gilbert Burns
Gilbert 'Durinho' Burns is one of the welterweights that has already faced Kamaru Usman. While he lost to the reigning champion, Burns fought admirably. In fact, he remains the only fighter to have ever dropped 'The Nigerian Nightmare' in a bout.
The Brazilian possesses the tools necessary to defeat the welterweight kingpin. The strength of his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skill-set serves as a deterence for Kamaru Usman's most powerful weapon: his wrestling.
Gilbert Burns used his world-class submission skills to win at #UFCRio foxs.pt/1C1cM3V http://t.co/l3a5035Obd
Without the ability to take his foe to the ground, the Nigerian's avenues to victory are severely limited. Furthermore, in the striking department, Burns' frequent use of the calf kick should — on paper — trouble his former training partner due to Usman's overreliance on his jab.
Not only does the welterweight champion always throw his jab, he does so with proper form. He steps in as he jabs, extending his stance and committing all of his weight behind it. The tradeoff, however, is that Kamaru Usman exposes his lead leg to low kicks.
The calf kick, in particular, works well as a counter to the jab. As the shorter fighter, Burns can use his longest weapon — his leg — to attack the closest target, which is Usman's lead leg: countering him every time 'The Nigerian Nightmare' steps in to jab.
Not only will it damage Kamaru Usman's leg and limit his effectiveness while striking, but it will disrupt his stance, creating openings for 'Durinho' to land right overhands and left hooks whenever Usman must recover his stance.
Additionally, as the shorter and faster fighter, Burns can use one of his favorite punches — the overhand right — to counter Kamaru Usman's jab and intercept him every time he steps into range.
And with the punching power Burns possesses, it is not inconceivable that he can knock the Nigerian unconscious on the counter. While Kamaru Usman can switch stances to render Burns' calf kicks ineffective, the Brazilian's familiarity with the Nigerian as a former training partner likely means he'd be prepared for such a switch-up.