'Nigerian Nightmare' Kamaru Usman is fighting his way to top of UFC 1

‘Nigerian Nightmare’ Kamaru Usman is fighting his way to top of UFC

(CNN)Kamaru Usman thinks he was born to combat and on Saturday, the 31-year-old showed it by ending up being the very first African Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champ after beating victor Tyron Woodley, at a flagship occasion in Las Vegas.

For Usman, the UFC provides the ideal arena to display his skill for a sport he signed up with at elite level in 2015.
Since signing up with the UFC, Usman has actually gradually worked his method up the ranks from novice to title opposition in the area of simply a couple of years.

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    Usman states he went on a difficult training school and a rigorous diet plan to get ready for the prospective battle.
    In the end, the battle never ever occurred as Till made the weight simply a day prior to his bout with Woodley, which he ultimately lost.
    Though dissatisfied not to get the opportunity, Usman is sanguine about the experience.
    “I think in fate. I think in karma. I think in things like that,’ he states.
    “I was prepared and totally waiting to take complete chance of that, however it didn’t occur, so hey, it’s not in God’s prepare for me. Possibly God desired me to get it a particular other method, however I’m gon na do whatever in my power to make certain that I’m a champ.”
    Usman entered into the bout with Woodley in great shape after controling Rafael dos Anjos, a previous light-weight champ, over 5 rounds in December.

    Tough love maturing in Nigeria

    Usman thinks maturing in Nigeria has actually contributed in his stable increase to the top of his sport.
    “I keep in mind the streets, I keep in mind needing to stroll what appeared like miles and miles and miles to bring water from the wells with my granny,” he states.
    “I coped with my granny for a year when I was extremely young, and even to this day when I inform my mom occasions that happened, she can’t think that I can remember that far.
    “I remember a great deal of it. I remember the effort that my household went through simply to continue to live the way of life that we were living, which wasn’t by any indicates a terrific way of life.
    “It was simply a remarkable way of life to impart specific worths in a kid.”

    Fighting household

    Usman is not the only fighter in his household. His more youthful sibling, Mohammed, is likewise a fighter on the MMA heavyweight circuit with 3 wins and a loss to his name .
    When Usman isn’t getting ready for career-defining battles, he addresses household responsibilities such as caring for his child and taking her to day care.
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