Kamaru Usman believes he was born to fight, a Nigeria native who now resides in Dallas, went up against Tyron Woodley who had been champion since Aug. 2016, he had a seven-fight unbeaten streak.
Usman called Woodley “the greatest welterweights of all time,” but Usman showcased his talent and snapped Woodley’s unbeaten streak to become First Nigerian born champion, 4 years after joining the UFC.
Usman was born in Benin City, Nigeria, Usman, and his family immigrated to the United States when he was about 8-years-old. After compiling a 53–3 record in high school wrestling, Usman’s wrestling career took off after transferring to the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Usman earned NCAA Division II All-American honors all three years he attended and helped the school win its first-ever overall team title in 2008. In his senior season, he won the 2010 NCAA Division II national title at 174 lbs. Additionally, he was also a member of the University World Team for wrestling in 2010.
Usman is nicknamed the ‘Nigerian Nightmare,’ and is one of around five Africans in the UFC. For Usman, the UFC presents the perfect arena to showcase his talent, he joined at the elite level in 2015.
Since joining the UFC, Usman has slowly worked his way up the ranks from rookie to title challenger in the space of just a few years. His rise has brought attention from some friends in high places, notably, Dana White, president of the UFC, who said “I was impressed. I’m telling you, I want to see him fight Woodley now. “
In September 2018, Usman was penciled in as the backup for a fight between Woodley and English challenger Darren Till.amid fears that Till would not make the weight required to fight in the division.
Usman said he went on a grueling training camp and a strict diet to prepare for the potential fight. In the end, the fight never happened as Till made the weight just a day before his bout with Woodley, which he(Till) eventually lost.
Usman was disappointed he didn’t get the chance against Woodley but said “I believe in fate. I believe in karma. Maybe God wanted me to get it a certain another way, but I’m gonna do everything in my power to make sure that I’m a champion.”
Dana White and Kamaru Usman got their wish as the opportunity finally came to fight champion Tyron Woodley not as a backup but as the main opponent, and Dana White must have been left more impressed by the outcome of the fight.
Kamaru Usman achieved his ultimate UFC goal on March 2nd, 2019, when he dethroned Tyron Woodley (one of the game’s best wrestlers) to win the welterweight title. His perfect octagon record continued with a one-sided decision victory over Woodley (19-4-1 MMA, 9-3-1 UFC) to claim the 170-pound title.
“I might not be the best striker, I might not be the best wrestler, but when it comes to mixing it up, there’s no question I’m the best welterweight on the planet,” Usman said.
With the victory, Usman, a Nigeria native who now resides in Dallas, improved to 15-1. He’s won 14 in a row and is 10-0 in the UFC, dating back to winning The Ultimate Fighter 21.
Usman believes growing up in Nigeria has been instrumental in his steady rise to the top of his sport. “I lived with my grandmother for a year when I was very young, I remember the streets, I remember having to walk what seemed like miles and miles and miles to fetch water from the wells with my grandmother,” something Usman attributes to the value he has in hard work.
The post Achieving the ultimate UFC goal- The story of Kamaru Usman appeared first onCornerstone News Nigeria.
