Sherdog’s Top 10: Greatest Title Reigns

10. Kamaru Usman

UFC Welterweight Champion, 2019-2022

Usman was a runner-up on Sherdog's welterweight list last year, and while he may slip from that position in a newer iteration, his excellent title reign cracks this list. Usman started out as the ultimate MMA wrestler, an elite amateur who perfectly adapted his skillset for the sport. His work in a clinch against the cage is the finest we've seen yet, he has excellent top control and punishing ground-and-pound, and outstanding cardio. However, over time, Usman developed very good striking, including a gorgeous and powerful right cross which made him the first to render Jorge Masvidal unconscious and also obliterated Colby Covington and Gilbert Burns. Showing how much of a great all-around martial artist he is, Usman also has devastating kicks, especially the front kick to the body, which I believe was the difference-maker against Covington.

After eviscerating Tyron Woodley for 25 straight minutes to claim the crown, which was absolutely shocking at the time, Usman defended his title five times, only one of which was close. He knocked out arch-rival Covington in the fifth round of one of the greatest fights I've ever seen, earned an easy decision against Masvidal with grappling and won the rematch with a thunderous right cross on the feet, supposedly an area of advantage for his opponent, and came back from early adversity to knock out Burns. His rematch against Covington was yet another all-time classic, with Usman nearly knocking out his nemesis in the second stanza before Covington came on strong in the later rounds. I personally had it a draw and am sympathetic to a close Usman verdict, but don't believe one could credibly score it for the challenger. At the very least, Usman won the first round and the second one was 10-8. Usman was only a minute away from defeating yet another incredible challenger in Leon Edwards, but as we all know, his desire to entertain got the better of him and Edwards crashed through with a glorious head kick knockout. Still, Usman's reign as welterweight king was great.

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