UFC 261: Kamaru Usman’s Character Building Test

“One day, I get a call from my mom, and she’s screaming and crying on the phone. I just remember my heart sinking in my chest, thinking it was over.”

While “The Nigerian Nightmare” is set to make the walk once again this Saturday against a familiar foe, his road to Welterweight supremacy demanded grit, and a fire like no other that was sparked by a tragic turn of events that shaped Kamaru Usman to become “Varsity” in every which way.

Long before becoming the best in the world, a young kid from Auchi, Nigeria, was doing what he loved the most, in his Wrestling singlets, on the mats shedding blood, sweat, and tears, hoping to make his family proud one day of his future accomplishments.

While being fully dedicated to the gruelling sport of wrestling from an early age, there was a missing link by no one’s fault. It was the man that young Kamaru called his hero, and most importantly, his father.

Muhammed Usman wanted nothing but the best for his wife and three kids, so he headed to the United States, knowing that the brightest opportunities laid in the land of the free. However, on a dark day, a S.W.A.T team raided the Usman household, taking Muhammad for what was about to be over a decade.

The day that incident took place, Kamaru received the devastating news from his mother. He said, “One day, I get a call from my mom, and she’s screaming and crying on the phone. I just remember my heart sinking in my chest, thinking it was over.”

That call changed Usman’s life forever. He grew a chip on his shoulder. Taking care of his mother at an early age forced him to become the man he is today.

“When I was in prison, Kamaru wrote me a letter. It said, never let the family see you cry. I still got that letter,” Kamaru’s father said.

That letter was written from Kamaru’s heart, torn from seeing his mother’s sadness and agony while getting ready to visit his father. Not being able to fathom what was happening to her innocent husband, who wanted nothing but to do everything the right way.

Despite everything that was happening, Usman was able to spill out all the amped-up aggression and frustration into the Wrestling mats, helping him flourish in the national scene. But a change was knocking, and it was about to become the pivotal moment in what was about to become a story for the ages. However, father’s blessing was the first step.

Kamaru’s visit to his father was short, sweet, but meaningful. Through the thick wall of glass between them, Kamaru showed his father the footage of his first sparring session in 2012 with the hopes of getting his dad’s blessing to chase the dream of becoming a world champion. And just like that, a Blessing was granted.

Little under three years into his MMA journey, Usman found himself in the ultimate fighter house, alongside sixteen other fighters, chasing the same dream of earning a UFC contract. That season was the introduction of “The Nigerian Nightmare” to the MMA world. And while they say that you only get one first impression, that was all Usman needed to install one word next to his name when it comes to a fistfight, domination.

Usman ran through the tournament, earning a UFC contract with his hero on his mind, as he was watching his son behind bars climbing the mountain top, giving him the most powerful tool of all, hope.

After racking thirteen wins in a row, Usman made the walk with UFC gold on the line against fellow heavy-handed wrestler Tyron Woodley. And while Usman was an underdog against “The Chosen One,” he did what he does best, dominate. And after a shutout performance, Kamaru Usman claimed Welterweight supremacy in one of the most one-sided title fights in the promotion’s history.

Following his dominant performance against Woodley, “The Nigerian Nightmare” showed his true aura of greatness when he made his first title defence against long rival Colby “Chaos” Covington. The stakes were high, and before the first bell rang, both wrestlers made an eye contact agreement that no wrestling will be implemented in the fight, just a mano-a-mano showdown to settle the bad blood once and for all.

In one of the greatest fights in Mixed Martial Arts history, Usman knocked out Covington in the last minute of their barn burnet shootout. “I told them, I’m a problem!” Usman said.

Following his fight of the year, Usman wasted no time cleaning out the entire division by beating 305’s finest, Jorge Masvidal, followed by Knocking out Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu phenom and former teammate, Gilbert Burns.

February 5th, 2020, was the day Kamaru and his family had been waiting for. Over eleven years of lonely nights and mind-wandering thoughts, his father became, at last, a free man.

While Kamaru’s father watched his entire journey behind bars, he always wondered how it would feel to be next to the man in the arena, and on April 24th, the king of the Welterweights will make the walk for the first time with his father cheering him from the first row to watch him do what he does best, and that’s to compete at the highest level.

Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. And that’s what shaped Usman into the man he is today. And with the absence of his father in his character-defining years, Usman learned that the presence of a father to his kids is the most gratifying, joyful gift of all. And despite being incarcerated for years, Muhammad Usman wanted nothing but to see his family flourish and grow through the tough times.

“When I was in prison, I talked to my wife like twice a day. And my kids, I tried to call them like twice a week. Letting them realize, that hey, this is not the end of the world. They should forge ahead. Do the best they can.” Muhammed said.
Not only did Kamaru do the best he could, but he became the best. And this Saturday, his father sits front row to enjoy the show.

“Being a father to me means more than any accomplishment that I’ve ever achieved, more than any medal, or any belt, or any achievement that I’ve ever got.” -Kamarudeen Usman

Written by: Tarek Alsabbagh, Lightkeeper Promotions