This summer, "The Nigerian Nightmare" was on top with 15 straight victories in the UFC and ten years without a single loss. He had defended his welterweight champion belt (77.1 kilograms) five times and was just a minute away from winning the title match against Leon Edwards.
Then the Briton accounted for a spectacular kick that knocked Usman out with just 56 seconds left of the game. The MMA world was in shock.
On Saturday, the two stars will meet again at Edwards' home ground in London, and now Usman hopes to take revenge there to face Khamzat Chimaev in the future.
Compare with Tele2 Arena
The Swedish star has previously challenged the Nigerian, but missed the weight limit considerably ahead of his last fight and now there are question marks over whether he can really compete at welterweight going forward.
"From what I've heard, it will be tough for him to lose to that weight class, but if he can do it, I would have loved to face Chimaev," Usman told SVT Sport.
He dreams of a gala like the one at the Tele2 Arena in 2015 that attracted 30,000 spectators.
"I've achieved everything you can in this sport and been the poster name for the biggest galas, but what I miss is a really big 'arena show'. It has been such a gala in Sweden before when my friend and former teammate Anthony Johnson, resting in peace, met Alexander Gustafsson. I would have loved to come there and invite the fans in Sweden to a show against Khamzat. That would be amazing," Usman said.
Usman: "I'm a fan"
Are you a fan of Chimaev or how do you look at him?
"I'm a fan of the sport and when he goes out and shows off new, good techniques, I'm a fan. I can't help it. Some people don't understand what you mean when you say that, but even Colby Covington, whom I've met a couple of times, I can be a fan of. Or certain things that Jorge Masvidal or Gilbert Burns do. So yes, I'm a fan.
Kamaru Usman is 20-2 in match results while Chimaev is unbeaten 12-0.
SEE ALSO: Three questions about Chimaev's connection to Kadyrov
Javascript is turned off
Javascript must be turned on to play video
Learn more about browser support
Chimaev has been criticized for his links to Chechnya's president. Photo: Bildbyrån