Kamaru Usman

Kamarudeen Usman (born May 11, 1987) is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle wrestler, and graduated folkstyle wrestler.

He currently competes in the Middleweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the former UFC Welterweight Champion.

Usman is also The Ultimate Fighter 21 tournament winner.

As of November 14, 2022, he is #1 in the UFC welterweight rankings.

In college, 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, however, left early for the tournament without him, which frustrated Usman and influenced him to leave William Penn. He later transferred to the University of Nebraska at Kearney (Unk), 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.

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

As a freestyle wrestler, Usman primarily competed at 84 kg, and was a 2010 U.S. University World Team Member.

Collegiately, he competed at 174 lb, and was the 2010 NCAA Division II national champion, a three–time NCAA Division II All-American, and a NAIA national qualifier.

Usman was born in Auchi, Edo state of Nigeria.

His father was a major in the Nigerian Army and his mother was a teacher.

He has two brothers, Kashetu and Mohammed, the latter of whom is also a mixed martial artist and fellow The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) winner.

Usman had a modest upbringing 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.

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

Because Usman's wrestling coach at the time had trouble pronouncing his first name Kamarudeen, he got the nickname "Marty" when he joined the team and it stuck with him during his amateur wrestling career.

After compiling a 53–3 record as a senior and placing third at the Texas state championships, Usman wrestled at the senior national tournament before leaving for college.

He became the NCAA Division II national champion at 174 pounds in 2010, finishing the season with a 44–1 record and 30 straight wins.

Despite making the U.S. University World Team in 2010, Usman was sidetracked by injuries and eventually abandoned his Olympic goal after failing to qualify for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, turning his attention to mixed martial arts instead.

Former National Football League (NFL) star Christian Okoye, who has the nickname "The Nigerian Nightmare" trademarked, gave his blessing for Usman to use it.

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

Shortly after his folkstyle career was over, 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.

After failing to qualify for the 2012 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 before trying out for The Ultimate Fighter in early 2015.

In February 2015, it was announced that Usman was one of the fighters selected 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.

He won the fight via majority decision.

In the semifinals, Usman faced off against long-time veteran and former WSOF Welterweight Champion Steve Carl.

He won the fight via unanimous decision and advanced to the finals.

In the finals, Usman faced Hayder Hassan on July 12, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale.

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

He was also awarded the Performance of the Night award.

In his official debut as a UFC athlete, Usman faced future champion Leon Edwards on December 19, 2015, at UFC on Fox 17.

He won the fight by unanimous decision.

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

However, it was announced on May 1 that Usman had pulled out of the bout for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Luan Chagas.

In his first bout of the year, Usman faced Alexander Yakovlev on July 23, 2016, at UFC on Fox 20.

He won the one-sided fight 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.

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

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