UFC President Dana White recently affirmed that Kamaru Usman is the greatest of all time in the UFC welterweight division, surpassing Georges St-Pierre. White made this declaration based on Usman’s dominant performances and title defenses during his reign. The focus keyword, Kamaru Usman UFC welterweight greatest of all time, aligns with White’s strong endorsement.

Dana White Explains Why Kamaru Usman Reigns as Welterweight’s Best

Dana White praised Usman’s exceptional journey through the welterweight division, emphasizing the level of competition he faced during his title run. Usman’s reign was marked by victories over some of the toughest opponents, many of whom he defeated more than once. White contrasted this with the history of Georges St-Pierre, who remains one of the most successful fighters in UFC welterweight history with the record for most consecutive title defenses at nine.

Despite St-Pierre’s accomplishments, White insisted that Usman’s sustained dominance and ability to overcome the division’s best fighters twice make him the leader in the conversation. White openly addressed any criticism Usman might receive from fans but stressed that his achievements cannot be disputed. White stated,

“When you become a fu**ing world champion in the UFC, you went through death fu**ing row of the baddest motherfu**ers in the sport in your division that you could possibly fight, right? So when you talk about a Kamaru Usman, who went through them twice, you might not like Kamaru, you might not like whatever it is you don’t like about him, but you cannot fu**ing deny that he’s the greatest welterweight of all time. You can’t deny it.” —Dana White, UFC President

Usman Highlights Differences Between UFC and Boxing Contenders

Kamaru Usman contributed to the discussion by pointing out an important distinction between UFC competitors and professional boxers. In an episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast, Usman explained that UFC fighters typically face high-level competition from the start of their careers, unlike many boxers who accumulate undefeated records against less challenging opponents before stepping up.

According to Usman, UFC fighters often enter the promotion with records that may include losses, but this experience against strong contenders prepares them for championship-level fights. This factor, he argued, adds significance to the achievements of UFC champions like himself. Usman said,

“You see these boxers and they’re 22-0, 23-0, which is okay, I understand why they do it… And then you have guys here [in the UFC], guys could be 5-1, 6-1… they have experience to be able to go into a company like the UFC and be challenged. You’re not picking to try to pad your record till you get to where you’re good enough to fight championship caliber… you might be 8-1 or 9-2 and you might be a contender because you have that experience.” —Kamaru Usman, UFC Welterweight Champion

Usman’s Dominance and What It Means for Welterweight History

Usman’s legacy as a welterweight champion is shaped by the caliber of opponents he faced and defeated repeatedly. His title reign was characterized by consistency at the highest level, strengthening his claim as the division’s greatest fighter. This ongoing debate involving iconic names such as Georges St-Pierre gains more context as future contenders rise.

Dana White’s public endorsement of Usman as the welterweight GOAT carries significance for fans and analysts, framing how the championship landscape is viewed. As new contenders continue to emerge, the discussion around Usman’s place in the history of the UFC welterweight division will remain central.