41 Facts About Kamaru Usman

Kamarudeen Usman was born on May 11,1987 and is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle wrestler and retired folkstyle wrestler.

Kamaru Usman currently competes in the Welterweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is the former UFC Welterweight Champion.

Kamaru Usman's father was a major in the Nigerian Army and his mother was a teacher.

Kamaru Usman has two brothers, Kashetu and Mohammed, the latter of whom is a mixed martial artist and fellow The Ultimate Fighter winner.

Kamaru Usman started wrestling in his sophomore year in high school, at Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas.

In college, Kamaru Usman wrestled in Iowa at William Penn University for one year, where he was an NAIA national tournament qualifier in 2007, but was unable to attend the tournament due to a snowstorm; half of his team and his head coach left early for the tournament without him, which frustrated Kamaru Usman and influenced him to leave William Penn.

Kamaru Usman later transferred to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, which previously tried to recruit him under advisement of then-UNK wrestler Tervel Dlagnev, and subsequently helped the Lopers win their first-ever team title in 2008.

Kamaru Usman placed top three in the nation all three years he attended UNK and was a two-time national finalist.

Shortly after his folkstyle career was over, Kamaru Usman turned his attention to freestyle wrestling and became a resident of the United States Olympic Training Center, with hopes of making the 2012 Olympic team.

In 2011, Kamaru Usman served as the wrestling coach for Team Miller in The Ultimate Fighter season fourteen.

In February 2015, it was announced that Kamaru Usman was one of the fighters selected to be on The Ultimate Fighter 21.

Kamaru Usman won the fight via unanimous decision and advanced to the finals.

Kamaru Usman won the bout via submission in the second round, thus winning a six-figure contract with the UFC.

Kamaru Usman was awarded the Performance of the Night award.

Kamaru Usman was expected to face two-time World Jiu-Jitsu Champion Sergio Moraes on May 14,2016, at UFC 198.

Kamaru Usman won the one-sided fight via unanimous decision after out-grappling Yakovlev.

Kamaru Usman faced TUF: Brazil 3 tournament winner Warlley Alves on November 19,2016, at UFC Fight Night 100.

Kamaru Usman won the match by unanimous decision for the third-straight time.

Kamaru Usman faced former long-time KOTC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland on April 8,2017, at UFC 210.

Kamaru Usman won the fight via unanimous decision.

Kamaru Usman won the fight via one-punch knockout in the first round.

Kamaru Usman was scheduled to face Venator FC Welterweight Champion Emil Weber Meek on December 30,2017, at UFC 219 Meek presented VISA problems and the pair was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 124.

Kamaru Usman won the fight by unanimous decision after out-wrestling his opponent.

Kamaru Usman was expected to face Santiago Ponzinibbio on May 19,2018, at UFC Fight Night 129.

Kamaru Usman faced former UFC Lightweight Champion Rafael dos Anjos on November 30,2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale.

Kamaru Usman won the one-sided fight via unanimous decision after dominating Woodley for five rounds.

Kamaru Usman made his first title defense and faced long-time rival Colby Covington at UFC 245 on December 14,2019.

Kamaru 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.

Kamaru Usman was scheduled to defend his title against BJJ World Champion Gilbert Burns, on December 12,2020, at UFC 256.

However, on October 5,2020, It was reported that Kamaru Usman had pulled out from the bout, citing more time needed to recover from undisclosed injuries and the bout was postponed for February 13,2021, as the headliner for UFC 258.

Kamaru Usman defended his title for the third time, as he won the fight via technical knockout in the third round, surpassing the record of the former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre for the largest win-streak in the division with thirteen.

Kamaru Usman successfully defended his title after knocking out Masvidal in the second round, becoming the first to do so in the UFC.

Kamaru Usman rematched Colby Covington for the UFC Welterweight Championship on November 6,2021 at UFC 268.

Kamaru Usman retained his championship, being declared the winner via unanimous decision.

Kamaru Usman met Leon Edwards in a rematch of their 2015 fight, attempting to make his sixth title defense on August 20,2022 at UFC 278.

Kamaru Usman entered the fight with a -425 winning favour while odd-makers saw Leon as a +315 underdog.

Kamaru Usman lost the fight and title via knockout late in the fifth round, marking Kamaru Usman's first loss inside the UFC.

Kamaru Usman was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment and ordered to pay $1,300,000 in restitution.

Kamaru Usman was released from FCI Seagoville on March 16,2021.

Kamaru Usman has a younger brother named Mohammed who was in The Ultimate Fighter, in the Heavyweight division, winning the UFC contract and becoming the first two brothers to do so.

Kamaru Usman was a guest star in the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, playing a naval officer.