Kamaru Usman (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

After working his way to a clear cut, decision win over Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night 129, Kamaru Usman believes he’s earned a shot at the promotion’s welterweight title.

Usman outscored Maia throughout the bout with his strikes, and squashed the renowned grappler’s takedowns. After the win, Usman had this to say about his next bout (quote via MMA Fighting):

“I think I should fight for the belt next,” Usman said. “I just dominated [Maia] better than (UFC champion) Tyron Woodley. Tyron ran from him the whole fight. Tyron threw, what, the fewest strikes in a championship fight ever? And I just went out and I dominated the guy from start to finish.”

“Let’s be honest. Nobody — nobody in my division wants to fight me, because I am the hardest fight for anybody. This fight right here, this a fight that Dana White wanted. He wanted to test me against the most dangerous guy in the division, and that was the most dangerous guy in the division. The champion is easier for me to fight. And you’ve got these other two bums that are fighting for an interim title, those guys are bums, those guys are easier for me to fight. This was the hardest fight in the division.”

Heading into Saturday’s event, Usman was ranked #7 and Maia was sitting in the #5 position.