Formidable up-and-comer, Kamaru Usman, will square off with jiu-jitsu master, Demian Maia, this Saturday (May 19, 2018) at UFC Fight Night 129 inside Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile.
Usman has a reputation as the most ducked fighter on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) roster.
It’s not hard to understand the reason(s). Usman is a powerhouse wrestler with knockout power, who tends to either dominate ugly fights, batter foes, or somehow do both. Until his success brings him recognition, he’s a very high-risk opponent, as even managing to beat him won’t instantly earn his foe a title shot. All that said, Usman’s problems could potentially be over following this fight, as he’ll have the chance to cap off an eight-fight win streak with victory over a well-known, Top 5-ranked opponent.
Let’s take a closer look at his skill set:
Striking
Though Usman more consistently smashes fighters into the mat, his kickboxing skill is nothing to scoff at. He’s a bit prone to being overeager in pursuit of the knockout, but Usman is genuinely tricky in setting up his power punches.
Usman’s kickboxing varies quite a bit from fight-to-fight, partially due to his development and in part because of Usman’s mentality. In back-to-back fights opposite Sean Strickland and Sergio Moraes, Usman’s attack was very different. Usman was extremely loose against Strickland, resulting in a lot of stinging punches with the occasional haymaker, whereas he rushed things against Moraes. The result was a more tense Usman who ate some extra counter shots, but it did produce a ridiculous one-punch knockout once he loosened up a bit (GIF).
Relaxed Usman is a very dangerous kickboxer who is nasty from both stances. Unlike many fighters, Usman spends a pretty equal amount of time fighting from each stance. From either stance, Usman applies consistent forward pressure and attacks with single strikes and short combinations.
From either stance, Usman makes the most of his 76-inch reach with a fast jab. In Orthodox, his goal is generally to snap his opponent’s head back and establish range. As a Southpaw, however, it’s more common for Usman to flick the jab, slip his head off the center line to avoid the counter and find a home for his left. The cross is a major weapon for Usman from either stance, and again it’s a difference or power vs. loose precision. Fighting right-handed, Usman will fully commit to the cross nearly every time and try to blast his opponent (GIF). As a Southpaw, Usman is far more likely to pitch the left hand smoothly, and he’s also more likely to follow up with a second cross or right hook.
Since the cross is such a dangerous weapon for Usman, he’s able to build off the punch very well, a strategy we break down in this week’s technique highlight.
Another layer to Usman’s offense is his ability to use level change feints. Usman doesn’t just squat down, he reaches for the leg in a very convincing feint of a snatch single. Opposite Sean Strickland, Usman repeatedly used level-change feints from the Southpaw stance to great effect. Strickland is a right-handed fighter, and the opposite stance dynamic meant that his lead leg was vulnerable to the snatch single. Usman would reach out for the single frequently, instead coming up with a left cross or right uppercut-left high kick. It was seriously effective, and having to guess whether to defend a takedown or punch really stymied Strickland’s own offense.
Training under Henri Hooft, it shouldn’t be surprising that Usman is a pretty smart kicker as well. He mostly relies on his hands, but Usman is active in attacking his foe’s lead leg. Usman tends to set the low kick up with feints rather than combinations, helping himself out by mixing targets to the thigh and calf. He’ll also suddenly go Southpaw and punt the inside of the leg. Similarly, Usman will shift Southpaw and kick to the body, a very effective strategy.
Defensively, Usman is far less hittable when he’s relaxed and flowing. When tense or uncomfortable, Usman is a bit slower, which is all the time needed for a counter strike to slip through.
Wrestling
A multiple time All-American and one-time National champion in Division II collegiate wrestling, Usman is a very accomplished wrestler. More than that, both as an athlete and wrestler, Usman is a devastating combination of great physical strength and relentless conditioning.
Inside the cage, Usman very much likes to shoot from the Southpaw stance when facing Orthodox opponents. I mentioned it above, but the lead legs are very close in such exchanges — it’s common to accidentally step on the foot of an opposite stance opponent. Because of that, Usman can easily snatch up the lead leg in a single-leg takedown.
From the high-crotch position, Usman will commonly dump his opponent to the mat. If his opponent maintains his balance, Usman can quickly convert to a double leg takedown, as the motion of the attempted dump perfectly sets up the lift.
Although shooting with his head to the outside does leave him more at risk of landing in a guillotine, it also has the benefit of making it easier to cut an angle and take the back if his opponent defends the shot. In his last bout with Emil Meek, Usman reminded the world that his mat returns from that position are excellent. Usman has the physical strength to lift and slam any opponent that isn’t properly defending easily, but he’ll also mix inside trips into his offense. Generally, if his opponent is able to defend the inside trip, the slam will be available, and the inverse is true as well (GIF).
Defensively, Usman has never been taken down, and best of luck to Demain Maia in his attempt to be the first.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Usman’s top game is almost entirely wrestling, as he pins wrists and batters opponents largely from either the guard or turtle. That said, he does work to pass into mount and will attack with submissions if his opponent presents the opportunity — such as when he tried to kimura Strickland from half guard.
The sole submission win of Usman’s career named him champion of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 21. Opposite Hayder Hassan, Usman’s dominant takedowns and ground striking were overwhelming his American Top Team foe. Hassan tried to latch onto Usman’s head to control him, but Usman passed into mount, creating the perfect situation for an arm triangle.
Once Usman’s hands were locked, it was easy for someone of Usman’s strength to drop his weight and finish the hold.
Conclusion
Usman is a terrifying athlete with legitimately great wrestling and much slicker striking than the average wrestle-boxer. He’s a large favorite over Maia, and if we’re being honest, he’s almost guaranteed to stop the Brazilian if Maia is unable to score an early submission. At some point soon, Usman will stop being so avoided, likely because he’ll have a UFC title around his waist.
*****
Andrew Richardson, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt, is a professional fighter who trains at Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California. In addition to learning alongside world-class talent, Andrew has scouted opponents and developed winning strategies for several of the sport’s most elite fighters.