Kamaru Usman of Nigeria celebrates after his victory over Jorge Masvidal in their UFC welterweight championship fight (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Kamaru Usman recounted his experience of growing up with his father who served in the army, as he visited an army training camp ahead of UFC 261.
Usman has been actively training for his rematch against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 261. The pair previously met at UFC 251, which Usman won via. unanimous decision.
Nine months later they will be running it back, but this time a ‘full-training camp Masvidal’ awaits the Nigerian Nightmare. However, Usman has vowed to finish Gamebred for good this time, come what may, after failing to do so last time.
Usman will be having the UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou by his corner this time, having cornered the Cameroonian during his recent victorious outing against Stipe Miocic at UFC 260.
In the latest embedded vlog series released by the UFC ahead of UFC 261, Usman shares his experiences growing up with an ‘Army father’.
He is first seen addressing a group of young army cadets wishing them all the best for their future, saying hard work and determination never go to waste.
Usman then goes on to share his own experience. He can be seen saying:
“I remember when I was in ROTC. My father was a major in the army. He was a major in the Nigerian army. And then came here, was in the army here as well. And, then he went to school, became a pharmacist while he was in the army. I just wanted to say good luck to those guys. These are the men that are going to eventually keep us safe. And so you know, definitely a special place in my heart for the armed service.”
Usman has almost cleared out the entire welterweight division. His toughest fight to date has been against Colby Covington at UFC 245; a match which many believe Colby was leading before Usman knocked out ‘Chaos’ towards the end of the fifth round.
Since that day, number one ranked welterweight contender Covington has expressed his desire in facing Usman in a rematch. And he very often rips into Usman whom he refers to as ‘Marty Fake Newsman’. So, a rematch might be very much on the cards.
Besides this, the only top ranked fighter Usman hasn’t fought against is Stephen Wonderboy Thompson, who has been staying afloat as a top ranked fighter since time immemorial.
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