{"id":10029,"date":"2021-10-26T11:38:38","date_gmt":"2021-10-26T15:38:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gambyl.com\/?p=10029"},"modified":"2021-10-26T11:38:41","modified_gmt":"2021-10-26T15:38:41","slug":"kamaru-nigerian-nightmare-usman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gambyl.com\/en\/ufc\/kamaru-nigerian-nightmare-usman\/","title":{"rendered":"Kamaru “Nigerian Nightmare” Usman"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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UFC Fighter Profile: Kamaru \\”Nigerian Nightmare\\” Usman<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Kamarudeen “Kamaru” Usman <\/strong>is a\u00a0Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist. He’s a former\u00a0freestyle wrestler\u00a0and graduated\u00a0folkstyle wrestler, born May 11, 1987.

He currently competes in the\u00a0welterweight division<\/strong>\u00a0of the\u00a0Ultimate Fighting Championship<\/strong>\u00a0(UFC<\/a>). Nowadays he is the reigning\u00a0UFC Welterweight <\/strong>Champion.

Usman was also\u00a0The Ultimate Fighter 21\u00a0tournament winner and he currently is #1 in the\u00a0UFC <\/strong>men’s pound-for-pound rankings.

After failing to qualify for the ’12 US Olympic Team Trials in\u00a0freestyle wrestling, Usman made his professional MMA debut in November 2012.

He compiled a record of 5\u20131, competing for several regional promotions. Later, trying out for\u00a0The Ultimate Fighter\u00a0in early 2015.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UFC Profile \u2013 Kamaru Usman<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

TUF 21 Run:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In February 2015, it’s announce that Usman is one of the fighters to be on\u00a0The Ultimate Fighter 21<\/strong>.

In his TUF <\/strong>debut and quarterfinal bout of the bracket, Usman faced undefeated eventual\u00a0Titan FC Welterweight Champion<\/strong>\u00a0Michael Graves<\/strong>. Surprisingly, he won the fight via majority decision.

In the semifinals, Usman faced off against long-time veteran and former\u00a0WSOF Welterweight Champion<\/strong>\u00a0Steve Carl<\/strong>. Then again, He won the fight via unanimous decision and advanced to the finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Finals<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In the finals, Usman faced\u00a0Hayder Hassan\u00a0on July 12, 2015, at\u00a0The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale. Finally, he won the bout via submission in the second round, thus winning a six-figure contract with the UFC<\/a><\/strong>.

He gained the\u00a0Performance of the Night\u00a0award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pre-Championship UFC Run<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

2015-2016: Vs. Leon Edwards, Alexander Yakovlev, and Warlley Alves<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In his official debut as a UFC <\/strong>athlete, Usman<\/strong> faced future contender\u00a0Leon Edwards<\/strong>\u00a0on December 19, 2015, at\u00a0UFC on Fox 17. As expected, he won via unanimous decision.

In his first bout of 2016, Usman<\/strong> faced\u00a0Alexander Yakovlev<\/strong>\u00a0on July 23, 2016, at\u00a0UFC on Fox 20. Then again, a match he won via unanimous decision after out-grappling Yakovlev<\/strong>.

Usman<\/strong> faced\u00a0TUF: Brazil 3\u00a0tournament winner\u00a0Warlley Alves<\/strong>\u00a0on November 19, 2016, at\u00a0UFC Fight Night 100. Startling, he won the match by unanimous decision for the third-straight time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continuing the streak in 2017: vs. Sean Strickland, Sergio Moraes, and Emir Webek Meek. <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Usman faced former long-time\u00a0KOTC Middleweight Champion\u00a0Sean Strickland\u00a0<\/strong>on April 8, 2017, at\u00a0UFC 210. As it’s not surprising, he once again won the fight via unanimous decision.

A rescheduled bout with a\u00a0S\u00e9rgio Moraes<\/strong>\u00a0on a seven-match unbeaten streak eventually took place on September 16, 2017, at\u00a0UFC Fight Night 116. This time\u00a0Usman<\/strong> won the fight via one-punch knockout in the first round.

Usman was scheduled to face Venator FC Welterweight Champion\u00a0Emil Weber<\/strong> Meek\u00a0on December 30, 2017, at\u00a0UFC 219. However, Meek’s VISA\u00a0presented problems and the pair was rescheduled for\u00a0UFC Fight Night 124<\/strong>.

Usman won the fight by unanimous decision after out-wrestling his opponent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Becoming the Contender, 2018: vs. Demian Maia and Rafael Dos Anjos.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Usman should face\u00a0Santiago Ponzinibbio<\/strong>\u00a0on May 19, 2018, at\u00a0UFC Fight Night 129<\/strong>.

However, Ponzinibbio <\/strong>pulled from the card due to injury\u00a0and replaced by\u00a0ADCC Grappling World Champion\u00a0and two-time UFC title challenger\u00a0Demian Maia<\/strong>.

After denying all of Maia<\/strong>‘s fifteen attempts of\u00a0takedowns\u00a0and out-performing his opponent on the feet, Usman <\/strong>won the fight via unanimous decision.

Usman <\/strong>faced\u00a0former UFC Lightweight Champion\u00a0Rafael dos Anjos<\/strong>\u00a0on November 30, 2018, at\u00a0The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale<\/strong> and\u00a0won the fight via unanimous decision earning him second\u00a0Performance of the Night\u00a0award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kamaru Usman’s Championship Run<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n