What Do Kamaru Usman’s Nicknames ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ & ‘Marty’ Mean?

Before the UFC gold, before the Octagon lights, Kamaru Usman was just another kid trying to find his place in a new country. Born in Auchi, Nigeria, Usman moved to the U.S when he was just 8 years old. Landing in Dallas, Texas, with his family, the transition wasn’t always smooth. For a young Usman, life was about adjusting to learning the language, understanding the culture, and figuring out how to fit in.

That’s when the nicknames began. One stuck out for its simplicity, ‘Marty’. The other would later define his fighting legacy, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’. But where did these names come from? And what do they really mean? Let’s break it down.

Why is Kamaru Usman called ‘Marty’ by Colby Covington?

The former UFC welterweight champion’s full name is Kamarudeen Usman. And when he began his stint at the wrestling team at Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas, that name became a problem. Why? Because his coaches and his teachers couldn’t pronounce Kamarudeen!

His coach, Steve Carter, made a quick decision as he reportedly stated, “You look like a Marty. I’m going to call you Marty.” and just like that, the name stuck.

Kamaru Usman didn’t mind at the time. He was focused on improving, fitting in, and working hard. “It didn’t matter what name I was called,” he later explained in an interview. “I just wanted to be great.” The nickname also followed him into college and became part of his wrestling identity.

But years later, when Colby Covington began building his villain persona, he dug up the old nickname to mock Usman during the buildup to their UFC 245 clash. Calling him “Marty from Nebraska,” Covington tried to frame him as someone who had abandoned his Nigerian roots. His intention? To chip away at Usman’s identity, to get under his skin.

Yet, Usman responded by stating, “He thinks it’s an insult. But it’s not. That name helped me through some important stages. It was never meant to diminish who I am.” Now, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’?  That’s a different story!

Meaning and story behind the nickname ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’

Kamaru Usman doesn’t just wear the green and white flag on his back; he wears it in his spirit. His nickname is a nod to Christian Okoye, the former NFL star and Nigerian-born powerhouse who bulldozed through defenders for the Kansas City Chiefs in the late 80s to early 1990s.

Okoye was the original “Nigerian Nightmare,” and he still owns the trademark. But when Usman asked for permission to carry the legacy into MMA, Okoye gave his blessing and stated, “It is flattering for sure, if using it will help him succeed, more power to him.”

For Usman, the name represents more than just pride. “The name symbolizes the most elite athlete,” he said. Like Okoye before him, Usman became a nightmare for anyone who stood across from him, first as a wrestler, then as a UFC welterweight champion.

So, whether it’s Marty, the name that helped him fit in, or the Nigerian Nightmare, the name that reminds him who he is, both nicknames tell the story of a fighter who never stopped evolving.

Now, at UFC Atlanta/ UFC on ESPN 69, Kamaru Usman will be taking on Joaquin Buckley in a welterweight showdown. Coming out of a 2-year layoff and currently on a 3-fight skid, this might be the last chance for Usman to remind the MMA world that ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ isn’t ready to fade away into the background just yet!