Usman emerges Fighter of the Year

Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler, Kamaru Usman has been named the Fighter of the Year by ESPN and respected Mixed Martial Arts website, MMAfighting, beating Charles Oliveira, Ciryl Gane, Julianna Pena, Rose Namajunas and Kayla Harrison to the award.

According to MMAfighting  the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ polled a total of 107 points to win the award while Oliveira finished second with 87 points and Gane garnered 53 points coming third.

Usman had an explosive 2021 winning all three fights he went into the octagon for. He defeated former teammate Gilbert Burns via knockout in February before claiming second victories against Jorge Mashvidal in April via knockout and Colby Covington via unanimous decision in November.

The Nigerian has also been ranked the best pound-for-pound fighter in the franchise after earning knockout (punches) victory in three of his last five fights. He beat Alexander Volkanovski and Israel Adesanya to the accolade.

His performance in 2021 has earned him comparisons with one of the all-time best UFC fighters, Georges St-Pierre and given the quality of his opposition in 2021, the resounding way he won the fights and his activity level, Usman became an easy choice for the Fighter of the Year award.

Usman currently competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is the current UFC Welterweight Champion.

Born in Auchi, Nigeria, Usman’s father was a major in the Nigerian Army and his mother was a teacher. He has two brothers, Kashetu and Mohammed, of whom the former is a Doctor of Pharmacy and the latter is a mixed martial artist.

Growing up with his mother and two brothers in Benin City, Usman struggled with the conditions in his environment during his childhood. Usman’s father Muhammed Nasiru Usman, who became a pharmacist in the United States, brought his family into the country when Usman was eight years old, immigrating to Dallas, Texas.