I just wonder what is next for Usman. The guy still has champions ambitions, but he is rather old already. 37 and already 8 years in UFC. He wont get a title fight as a next fight. Imho he wont have a title fight in the fight that comes after his next (if he wins). 2 fights that is like a year in fighters career.
He's 36, he'll be 37 in May, not that this makes any real difference. There are plenty of potential match-ups for Usman that would make sense. He's still the number one contender, so probably will be matched against Belal, and the winner will get a title shot. This would work best if Colby defeats Edwards. Usman beat Colby twice already, so it would be a sort of test to see if he's still there in terms of fighting ability.
Alternatively, he could be paired up with some rising new star like Shavkat Rakhmonov, but I think the first option is much more likely to happen.
Given his age, Usman is still tough as a bull and the ones he fought before may refuse to fight him again. So far it's Belal Muhammad that qualifies the most in order to push Usman's rank down. Usman winning their fight I think will not get him a title shot again but he'd be a gatekeeper preventing Colby from getting a belt. Usman and Colby are in the same situation where they are given the shot twice and lost twice.
We may be divided on who to bet on if Usman is matched against Rakhmonov. It's also time to give Rakhmonov a tougher fight.