Mohammed Usman: “Fans Can Expect That The Motor Will Be Fully Oiled Up”
Continuing their summer of non-stop action, UFC is set to provide another amazing card with UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Jandiroba (UFC on EPSN 60) on July 20, 2024. With a stacked main card, there is one fighter on the prelims looking to steal the show. Having a pedigree and hunger to do so, Mohammed Usman will show the world he can rebound from his last outing and continue to march forward in the UFC’s heavyweight division.
Finding Combat Sports and Early Development
Taking a little different approach than most fighters who enter the sport, Usman got into combat sports by watching and cornering his brother, former UFC champion Kamaru Usman. “I got into combat sports watching and cornering my brother. Then, eventually, I came down to Florida to train with the Blackzillians in the beginning before deciding to form a team around myself in Dallas, then Denver. Now I’m back home in Florida with Kill Cliff,” Usman told MYMMANEWS.
Everything has come full circle for Usman as far as his training home. The Blackzillians were created when 2011 when a group of fighters decided to leave American Top Team and create their own gym. Henri Hooft and Greg Jones were the primary coaches of the Blackzillians gym. Usman would then move to Dallas, Texas to hone his skills at Fortis MMA under Sayif Saud. Eventually finding his way back home to Hooft and Jones, Usman would join Kill Cliff FC. Kill Cliff FC was formally known as Sanford MMA and Hard Knocks 365. It is looked at as the successor to the Blackzillians.
Mohammed Usman has been fortunate in his young career to have such major influences on his development. ” I have so many people to give credit to, I couldn’t possibly name them all. I will start with God. He is the ultimate person that gets all the credit because I didn’t give up. Because of him, and of course my brother Kamaru Usman, Rashad Evans, and all my coaches and teammates that have helped me along the way,” stated Usman.
Mohammed Usman
Early MMA Career
At the age of 28, Mohammed Usman made his professional debut. As expected, he impressed with a first-round Kimura win at Tachi PF 31 in May 2017. After dominating again in his next two appearances, Usman would run into future UFC heavyweight Don’Tale Mayes, dropping a decision. Not letting that hold him back, Usman would sign with Titan FC and win four in a row. Usman would then make an appearance in PFL, dropping that contest.
His next venture, The Ultimate Fighter, would put him on the patch to the ultimate stage. Regardless of walking out of a cage with the win or loss, Usman is always ready to re-plan. “After each loss in my career I have went back to the drawing board and fixed my mistakes and things I can correct in the fight. I don’t make the same mistakes twice,” said Usman.
TUF 30
TUF 30 consisted of men’s heavyweights and women’s flyweights in search of a contract with the UFC through a tournament format. The coaches for that season saw former champions Amanda Nunes and Julianna Peña head their respective squads. Usman would see himself selected as the second-overall heavyweight, behind Eduardo Perez, who he would meet in the semi-finals. Marching his way to the finals with a unanimous decision over Mitchell Sipe and split decision over Perez, Usman would meet Zac Pauga at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill to determine the heavyweight TUF 30 winner. A big left hook followed up with hammer fists in the second round of action would secure the TUF 30 title for Usman.
“TUF made it actually easier because you didn’t have to think for yourself. Everything was in front of you, but it definitely gives you the blueprint on what it takes to be successful in this sport. You have to be organized from training to eating to sleeping. Everything has to be structured for success,” Usman stated about how TUF helped him prepare for day-to-day UFC life.
Current UFC Run
After defeating the previously undefeated Pauga for the TUF crown, Mohammed Usman would take away another undefeated streak by defeating Junior Tafa at UFC Fight Night: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes in April 2023 via unanimous decision. Usman dominated the competition with 79 total strikes compared to 37 along with 12:03 of control time in the 15-minute matchup. In September 2023, against Jake Collier, we would see a much tougher task for Usman, but he was still able to pull off the unanimous decision with 118 total strikes landing and 3:07 of control time.
Usman hit a roadblock to start 2024, suffering a decision defeat to Mick Parkin. With Thomas Petersen clearly in Usman’s sites for July 20, he has always rebounded well from any tough adversity. “The fans can expect that the motor will be fully oiled up and ready to run. I’m ready for it all. New camp, new body, new mindset = win!” stated Usman.
