Daniel Cormier agrees with Islam Makhachev: Kamaru Usman is a threat

Daniel Cormier believes fans are wrong to dismiss Kamaru Usman as a threat to Islam Makhachev. Makhachev won the welterweight title in dominant fashion against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 last November. The same card saw the emergence of new contenders such as Carlos Prates, who knocked out Leon Edwards, and Michael Morales, who knocked out Sean Brady. Meanwhile, Ian Garry defeated former champion Belal Muhammad at UFC Qatar a week later.

However, Makhachev wants to defend his title against Usman. “The Nigerian Nightmare” defeated Joaquin Buckley in June 2025 for his first win since 2021. However, Makhachev believes Usman is still beating new contenders like Prates and Morales. Makhachev’s friend Cormier agrees. For those counting Usman, “DC” reminds them of the former champion’s fight against Khamzat Chimaev. While Chimaev has outlasted almost every opponent, Usman moved up a weight class and gave “Borz” one of his toughest tests despite a majority decision loss.

One of the Greats

“Usman is one of the greatest welterweights of all time,” Cormier told Red Corner MMA. “I think also for people trying to write off Kamaru, because people are trying to write Kamaru off as a threat – remember how he fought Khamzat. Khamzat has destroyed just about everyone, and if it was a five-round fight, many felt like Kamaru Usman had a chance to beat him. That was a weight class higher. So while people are trying to write off Kamaru, I wouldn’t be so quick to say that he’s not a challenge to Islam because of his wrestling, because of me. agree with Islam that Kamaru Usman is a very difficult match for him.”