Kamarudeen “Kamaru” Usman is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist. He’s a former freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler, born May 11, 1987.
He currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Nowadays he is the reigning UFC Welterweight Champion.
Usman was also The Ultimate Fighter 21 tournament winner and he currently is #1 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings.
After failing to qualify for the ’12 US Olympic Team Trials in freestyle wrestling, Usman made his professional MMA debut in November 2012.
He compiled a record of 5–1, competing for several regional promotions. Later, trying out for The Ultimate Fighter in early 2015.
UFC Profile – Kamaru Usman
TUF 21 Run:
In February 2015, it’s announce that Usman is one of the fighters to be on The Ultimate Fighter 21.
In his TUF debut and quarterfinal bout of the bracket, Usman faced undefeated eventual Titan FC Welterweight Champion Michael Graves. Surprisingly, he won the fight via majority decision.
In the semifinals, Usman faced off against long-time veteran and former WSOF Welterweight Champion Steve Carl. Then again, He won the fight via unanimous decision and advanced to the finals.
The Finals
In the finals, Usman faced Hayder Hassan on July 12, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale. Finally, he won the bout via submission in the second round, thus winning a six-figure contract with the UFC.
He gained the Performance of the Night award.
Pre-Championship UFC Run
2015-2016: Vs. Leon Edwards, Alexander Yakovlev, and Warlley Alves
In his official debut as a UFC athlete, Usman faced future contender Leon Edwards on December 19, 2015, at UFC on Fox 17. As expected, he won via unanimous decision.
In his first bout of 2016, Usman faced Alexander Yakovlev on July 23, 2016, at UFC on Fox 20. Then again, a match he won via unanimous decision after out-grappling Yakovlev.
Usman faced TUF: Brazil 3 tournament winner Warlley Alves on November 19, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 100. Startling, he won the match by unanimous decision for the third-straight time.
Continuing the streak in 2017: vs. Sean Strickland, Sergio Moraes, and Emir Webek Meek.
Usman faced former long-time KOTC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland on April 8, 2017, at UFC 210. As it’s not surprising, he once again won the fight via unanimous decision.
A rescheduled bout with a Sérgio Moraes on a seven-match unbeaten streak eventually took place on September 16, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 116. This time Usman won the fight via one-punch knockout in the first round.
Usman was scheduled to face Venator FC Welterweight Champion Emil Weber Meek on December 30, 2017, at UFC 219. However, Meek’s VISA presented problems and the pair was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 124.
Usman won the fight by unanimous decision after out-wrestling his opponent.
Becoming the Contender, 2018: vs. Demian Maia and Rafael Dos Anjos.
Usman should face Santiago Ponzinibbio on May 19, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 129.
However, Ponzinibbio pulled from the card due to injury and replaced by ADCC Grappling World Champion and two-time UFC title challenger Demian Maia.
After denying all of Maia‘s fifteen attempts of takedowns and out-performing his opponent on the feet, Usman won the fight via unanimous decision.
Usman faced former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos on November 30, 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale and won the fight via unanimous decision earning him second Performance of the Night award.
Kamaru Usman’s Championship Run
- Kamaru Usman vs. Tyron Woodley
Riding a nine-fight winning streak in the UFC, Usman next faced UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley on March 2, 2019, in the co-main event at UFC 235.
He won the one-sided fight via unanimous decision after dominating his opponent for five rounds to be crowned as the new UFC Welterweight Champion.
Usman made his first title defense and faced long-time rival, Colby Covington, at UFC 245 on December 14, 2019.
Despite both athletes being mostly offensive wrestlers, the fight did not include any grappling and contained high-paced offense in the striking instead.
After a “slugfest”, Usman was able to knock down his opponent twice before finishing him with strikes in the fifth round to be declared the winner via technical knockout, earning both participants the Fight of the Night award.
2020 Matches
- Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal
Usman was scheduled to defend his title for the second time against long-time teammate and two-time No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Gilbert Burns on July 12, 2020, at UFC 251.
On July 5, 2020, it was reported that Jorge Masvidal had stepped in on short notice and served as a replacement for Burns, who had to be removed after testing positive for COVID-19.
Usman controlled most of the uneventful fight by keeping Masvidal in the clinch, winning via unanimous decision.
- Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns
Usman was once again scheduled to defend his title against BJJ World Champion Gilbert Burns, on December 12, 2020 at UFC 256.
However, the bout is reschedule for February 13, 2021, as the headliner for UFC 258.
Usman defended his title for the third time, as he won the fight via technical knockout in the third round, and this win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
2021 Matches
For his fifth title bout, Usman rematched against Jorge Masvidal for the UFC Welterweight Championship on April 24, 2021, at UFC 261 in Florida.
He successfully defended his title after knocking out Masvidal in the second round, becoming the first one to do so in the UFC.
This win earned Usman his fourth Performance of the Night bonus award.
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