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READ: The Real Reason Kamaru Usman Never Fought on Pay-Per-View Until His World Title Fight

Published 07/10/2020, 1:20 AM EDT

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The real reason behind certain decisions taken by UFC Welterweight champion Kamaru Usman has been brought into the light. In a comprehensive narrative by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the thought-process that surrounds ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ has been touched upon. The incident remains unique to the dominant champion and has given a new perspective as to his life and career.

On a podcast appearance alongside Joe Rogan, Kamaru Usman revealed that his father Muhammed Nasiru was in federal prison. The Division Two wrestler shared his personal narrative whilst still keeping the specifics unknown.

Primarily, Usman explained the reasoning behind not appearing on a pay-per-view event until he contested for a title. The aforementioned case became a talking point for Colby Covington, who mocked the same in the build-up to their fight.

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Kamaru Usman and Muhammed Nasiru: A brief history

Nasiru’s arrest and trial occurred just prior to Kamaru Usman actualizing his collegiate wrestling pedigree at the University of Nebraska.

He would end up serving nearly a decade worth of his 15-year overall sentence. His release in February marked the culmination of a long journey for Usman and his family. Throughout this period, Kamaru remained in constant contact with his father and shared his growing passion for MMA.

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Muhammed Nasiru spoke out on a conversation he had with the future 170-pound champion on a life of cage fighting.

“He came to me and said he wanted to be a fighter. He had some training video on his phone and showed it to me through the glass. I told him it’s not what I wanted for him, but I gave him my blessing.”

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The 16-1 professional flourished as an MMA fighter and found himself clawing his way to the top of the UFC. Since then, Usman chose to continue fighting on cable television so his fights could be viewed inside the Seagoville prison institute.

As ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ looks to headline arguably the biggest fight of his professional career, the circumstances have drastically changed. In light of recent events, the stakes for UFC 251 have just ascended to new heights.

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Written by:

Darryl Pinto

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Darryl Pinto is a senior MMA writer at EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his graduate degree in Mass Media (with a specialization in Journalism) out of Xavier’s College and has a year's experience in his current role. Darryl specializes in predictions, reporting, and covering UFC events live.
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