Chael Sonnen wants Kamaru Usman to stay at middleweight following his unanimous decision loss to Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC Fight Night 281 headliner in Oklahoma City.
Sonnen argued that despite Du Plessis’ dominant win, Usman showed enough at 185 pounds to warrant a full move to the division and a proper run there.
"I want him to stay at 185. I think he looked so good against Dricus."
Sonnen pointed to Usman’s past competing at a similar weight and said the former welterweight champion has never truly allowed himself to grow into middleweight.
"When Kamaru Usman used to wrestle, he was a 185 pounder. When Kamaru Usman had Olympic aspirations, it was for 86 kilograms – which translates to 185 pounds. He was never (170 pounds). But once you become a 70-pounder for 10 years, you're now not a middleweight unless you commit to it."
According to Sonnen, Usman’s focus on a potential bout with Islam Makhachev at welterweight delayed a real transition to 185.
"This was before the Ian Garry matchup was made, so Kamaru is not even thinking 185. He's thinking 170 because he knows, as well as I do, that he's in the short list of guys to go in at a scratch weight class. My point is he's never grown into this weight. Jon Jones took three years to just gain weight before he went up to (heavyweight)."
Sonnen believes a permanent move could benefit the 39-year-old.
"I think it could extend his career," Sonnen said, adding, "If he goes to '85, if he remembers how good he felt on Friday at the weigh-ins, and he goes, 'You know what? That's what I want for the rest of my career. I'd be all for that. I think he's a contender."
