Kamaru Usman “The Nigerian Nightmare”
Middleweight · Nigerian-American · UFC
Wrestling-first pressure fighter: elite takedown defense, suffocating clinch control against the fence, and an increasingly dangerous jab-led boxing game.
Chain-wrestling pressure on the fence and a fight-changing jab — the punch that famously broke down Gilbert Burns at UFC 258.
Record & stats
| Division | Middleweight |
|---|---|
| Categories | MMA |
| Promotion | UFC |
| Nationality | Nigerian-American |
| Team | Kill Cliff FC / Onx Sports |
| Height | 183cm6′0″ |
| Reach | 193cm6′4″ |
| Stance | Switch |
| Age | 39 |
| KO rate | 48% |
| Status | Active |
How the wins come
48% Finish rate- 9 KO/TKO · 43%
- 1 Submission · 5%
- 11 Decision · 52%
Recent results
- Lvs Dricus du Plessisdu Plessis def. Usman (UD, 50-45 / 49-46 / 49-46)
Auto-linked from KIAI's event coverage — updated as fights are decided.
Titles & honors
- UFC Welterweight Champion (2019–2022, five title defenses)
- First African-born champion in UFC history
- The Ultimate Fighter 21 winner
- Longest win streak in UFC welterweight history (15)
Biography
Kamaru "The Nigerian Nightmare" Usman turned a collegiate wrestling national championship into one of the most dominant runs mixed martial arts has ever seen. After winning The Ultimate Fighter 21 in 2015, the Nigerian-American reeled off a UFC welterweight-record 15-fight winning streak, dethroning Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 in March 2019 to become the first African-born champion in UFC history. He defended the belt five times — including knockouts of Jorge Masvidal and Gilbert Burns — and spent long stretches ranked the world's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. Even the dramatic 2022 head-kick loss to Leon Edwards and the trilogy that followed only underlined how long he had ruled the division. Usman reminded everyone of his enduring class in June 2025, outpointing surging contender Joaquin Buckley over five rounds in Atlanta. Now 21-5, the 39-year-old moved up to middleweight for a blockbuster clash of former champions against Dricus du Plessis at UFC Fight Night Oklahoma City on July 18, 2026, but came up short, dropping a clear unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) over the full five rounds.
Fight history
- LDricus du PlessisL UD 5
- WJoaquin BuckleyW UD 5
- LKhamzat ChimaevL MD 3
- LLeon EdwardsL MD 5
- LLeon EdwardsL KO R5
- WColby CovingtonW UD 5
FAQ
- What is Kamaru Usman's record?
- As of July 2026, Usman's professional MMA record is 21-5-0, with 9 wins by KO/TKO, 1 by submission and 11 by decision.
- When does Kamaru Usman fight next?
- He is not currently booked for a next fight. He moved up to middleweight and lost to former champion Dricus du Plessis by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) at UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City on July 18, 2026.
- Has Kamaru Usman ever lost?
- Yes, five times: twice to Leon Edwards (a 2022 head-kick KO and a 2023 majority decision), a 2023 majority decision to Khamzat Chimaev, a 2026 unanimous-decision loss to Dricus du Plessis at middleweight, and one submission loss early in his career in 2013.
- How long was Kamaru Usman UFC champion?
- He won the UFC welterweight title in March 2019 and defended it five times before losing it in August 2022 — a reign of nearly three and a half years.
- Did Kamaru Usman beat Dricus du Plessis?
- No. Du Plessis won a unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) over Usman on July 18, 2026 at UFC Fight Night in Oklahoma City.