Kamaru Usman believes he's best grappler in division, wants Demian Maia next to prove it

SAO PAULO – “The Ultimate Fighter 21” winner Kamaru Usman believes he’s the best grappler in the UFC’s welterweight division, and he wants the chance to prove it against the man many consider to be the best grappler in all of MMA.

“I want to make it a point in my career to kind of just stomp out all those ground guys and let them know that I am the best grappler in the division,” Usman told MMAjunkie. “A win here, I want Demian Maia.”

Usman (8-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) meets Brazilian prospect Warlley Alves (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 100, which takes place Saturday at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo. It airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Usman looks to remain unbeaten in the octagon as he steps in the UFC cage for the fourth time. He’ll meet Alves, a hard-hitting berserker who always opens with a ferocious surge of power.

However, Usman doesn’t believe Alves will be able to push him around.

“The problem is, he knows that I’m a big, strong guy, and I’m not a guy that you can just try to come in and run over,” Usman said. “I can wrestle for days. I can grapple for days. I can go for days. I’m not going to get tired. Hopefully he changes his approach, but if he doesn’t, it might be a short night for him.”

Usman doesn’t currently hold a place in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings, while Maia checks in at No. 5. It would be a big step up the ladder, especially when Maia is currently in line for a potential shot at the UFC welterweight title.

But with current champ Tyron Woodley’s recent draw against Stephen Thompson at UFC 205, a rematch with “Wonderboy” appears in order. And that’s only if current two-belt holder Conor McGregor doesn’t try the unthinkable and move up for a shot at a third title.

Usman knows circumstances are simply not in Maia’s favor. And if “The Nigerian Nightmare” can do what he hopes at UFC Fight Night 100, he’d formally like to offer up his services for Maia’s consideration.

“Demain Maia, I know he’s waiting for that title shot, but that’s a circus right now,” Usman said. “You’ve got Woodley with three guys that he’s kind of interchanging with, but I know (Maia) doesn’t want to sit there for a year and wait for them, so you know what? I’ll be a tune-up for him, if he wants that, but that’s definitely who I want next.

For more from Usman, check out the video above.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 100, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.