Nigerian-American Fighter Kamaru Usman Is the First African UFC Champion
The "Nigerian Nightmare" earned the welterweight MMA title on Sunday.
Nigerian-born fighter Kamaru Usman, also known as the "Nigerian Nightmare" has become the first Nigerian fighter, and the first from the continent to win an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title.
The UFC is the biggest competition in the world of professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
Usman earned the coveted welterweight title on Sunday, after defeating the four-time defender Tyron Woodley in the fifth round. The fighter wore green shorts and a green and white mouthguard during the fight to represent his Nigerian heritage.
The UFC shared a clip of an emotional Usman being named the new champion on Twitter, writing "Africa you have your first champion."
The 31-year-old, undefeated athlete was born in Benin City, Nigeria but relocated to Arlington, Texas as a child. "Nigeria, I have told them, we would do it," he was quoted as saying in Pidgin during the post-match press conference. "I told them we never fail. And we have done it today."
Before competing in the UFC, Usman won the Ultimate Fighter TV Show back in 2015.
Eyes are on Usman as he continues to defend his title. Congrats to the young athlete!
What's in A Name: How African Names Get Lost in Translation
From NBA stars to Grammy nominees, prominent Africans have often had their names misspelled or mispronounced. While some have pushed back and reclaimed it, others embrace it.
With “Sade,” Adekunle Gold Challenged The Nigerian Music Industry
As “Sade” turns 10, we take a look at how Adekunle Gold provided an alternative template to being a Nigerian superstar by making music with soul and commercial merits.