Kamaru Usman couldn’t control his tears when he was asked how it felt to put his championship belt around his father’s waist.
Reigning UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman is the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Usman is known for his brutal knockout power, as well as his wrestling abilities.
Born in Nigeria, but raised in America, Usman’s road to the top has not been easy. His road was made even more difficult when his father, Muhammed Nasiru Usman , was arrested in 2009 by SWATs and Federal Agents. He was found guilty of multiple cases of fraudulence.
In total, Nasiru Usman spent 14 years in prison. Thus he missed a lot of glamorous moments of his son’s career. The first time he was present at his son’s fight is when Usman took on Jorge Masvidal. Usman won the fight with a brutal knockout. After the fight, he put his belt around his father’s waist inside the ring.
It was a very emotional moment for the Usman family, and Dr.Phil asked “The Nigerian Nightmare” how that moment felt:
“It was surreal for me because I had visualized it from the start- from when I’m in the back of the locker room to the end when I’m back in the locker room after the fight. I try to visualize and I try to make it come to life as much as possible. ”
“So in my mind it was almost like I’ve been here before. So putting the belt around him I couldn’t really control it(tears). It’s one of the moments that I consider to be the pursuit of happiness.”
Usman is currently recovering from a hand injury. He set to fight Leon Edwards once he returns to the octagon.
