Kamaru Usman contemplating ‘whether it’s worth continuing to do this’ after lopsided loss to Dricus du Plessis

Kamaru Usman is contemplating retirement after suffering a lopsided defeat to Dricus du Plessis at UFC Oklahoma City. The 39-year-old former welterweight champion, typically known for competitive performances even in losses, felt this particular fight did not represent him well.

Usman has experienced setbacks before—including a stunning head-kick knockout loss to Leon Edwards in their rematch and a short-notice fight against Khamzat Chimaev—but he believes those losses still demonstrated his capabilities and gave him something to build from. The du Plessis loss, however, left him feeling differently. Speaking on his Pound-for-Pound podcast, Usman acknowledged that while he may not have felt completely overwhelmed during the fight, the visual appearance of being outmatched troubled him deeply.

"This one was a hard one because I felt like I didn't do that," Usman said of representing himself and his coaching team appropriately. "There was something to build off of for those fights. This one to the untrained eye, looks like I bit off more than I could chew."

Rather than immediately deciding on his next move or contemplating a return to welterweight, Usman says he needs to consult with his coaches and family before determining whether to book another fight or retire. The veteran fighter emphasized the difficulty of facing such a consequential decision after achieving so much in his career and experiencing its highs. If he does retire, Usman is assured a place in the UFC Hall of Fame and will be remembered as one of the greatest welterweights in MMA history. For now, he is taking time to reassess his position in the sport before making what could be a permanent decision about his future.