This was after he defeated America’s Joaquin Buckley (21-7) by unanimous decision in their welterweight main event.

There was no UFC belt around his waist at the end of the night, but Usman looked a lot like his old self on Sunday.

All three judges scored the bout for Usman, via scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.

It was Usman’s first victory since November 2021 and snapped a three-fight losing streak.

“It’s been a while,” Usman said as he struggled to control his emotions in the post fight interview.

“I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level… I expected him to be really tough, which he was.

“He’s a very talented guy. I show love and respect to all of these guys because I know what it takes to work and get here.”

A former welterweight champion and Number 1 pound-for-pound candidate, Usman, 38, came off a 20-month layoff to face Buckley.

He relied heavily on his collegiate wrestling background, particularly through the first four rounds.

He took Buckley down in each of the first four rounds and had very little difficulty keeping Buckley on his back and racking up offense.

Everything nearly changed in the last round, as Usman started to fade and telegraph his shots.

According to UFC Stats, he went 4-for-7 on takedown attempts in the first four rounds and 0-for-6 in the final five minutes.

Buckley, 31, came on strong and appeared to hurt Usman with winging hooks and uppercuts.

Usman’s experience paid off, though, and he managed to avoid the big shot.

The loss snapped Buckley’s six-fight winning streak.

Four of those six wins had come via knockout.

“I’m going to be honest, I’m just glad to be in this Octagon with someone who is known as one of the best,” Buckley said.

“For us to go five rounds and put on an amazing fight, I’m just so happy.

“I’ve come a long way to see me here. This ain’t gonna be the end. We’re just getting started.”

Before his three-fight skid, Usman put together one of the greatest runs in UFC history.

He was on his way to a sixth title defense in August 2022 when Leon Edwards caught him with a devastating head kick in the fifth round of their title fight.

Usman went on to lose to Edwards again in an immediate rematch and then dropped a decision to Khamzat Chimaev in a short-notice contest at middleweight.

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His performance at State Farm Arena against Buckley was vintage Usman from the very start.

He took Buckley down in the opening minute, established control and opened a small cut near Buckley’s right eye with elbows.

The following rounds were essentially a rinse-and-repeat effort of the first, although Buckley deserved credit for maintaining his composure and cardio down the stretch.

The result is something of a shakeup for the 170-pound division, with Usman defeating Buckley as a significant betting underdog.

He now finds himself a legitimate option for the winner of a welterweight title fight between Jack Maddalena and Islam Makhachev, which is expected to take place later this year.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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The middleweight bout was the UFC Fight Night 250 main event at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Adesanya kicked high and to the body in the first few seconds.

A minute in, Imavov got inside for a quick combination, but had to fend off a high kick from the ex-champ on the exit.

When Imavov stayed after a slightly sloppy double-leg takedown, Adesanya turned tables on him and pulled off a short throw of his own in defense.

Moments later, he again staved off an Imavov clinch attempt.

With about 70 seconds left in the opening frame, just when it looked like Adesanya had mastered the range against Imavov with stance switches and general evasiveness, Imavov popped Adesanya’s head back with a tight uppercut to make an impression.

In the second, Adesanya complained of an eye poke and got a brief stoppage.

But he very quickly asked Marc Goddard to get things going again.

And no sooner did that happen, Imavov drilled Adesanya with a right hand and put him on the canvas.

Imavov pounced on him on the fence immediately, and a left uppercut along the cage was worse.

Several more punches from Imavov, and things were done in a stunner.

READ ALSO: ‘Back in Action’ tops Netflix Nigeria movie chart

“I said it all week long that I was in perfect shape,” Imavov told Paul Felder in his post-fight interview. “I proved it tonight that I was the better striker. Now the real bonus for me is going to be to fight for the belt.”

The loss was Adesanya’s third straight – and his first in a non-title fight.

In fact, the fight was his first non-title fight in about six years.

Imavov now can make a great case for a middleweight title shot.

He has won seven of his past eight fights, and the lone loss in that stretch was up a weight class at light heavyweight against ex-middleweight champ Sean Strickland.

Along with Adesanya, his four-fight winning streak features a stoppage of recent title challenger Jared Cannonier.

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Chief Akin Onifade, the Sajuku of Esa-Oke told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Friday that Adesanya would be honoured at the Esa-Oke Day celebration later this year.

The celebrated Nigerian-New Zealand UFC middleweight combatant arrived Lagos on Wednesday, few days after losing the UFC 305 crown to South African Dricus Du Plessis.

After five consecutive UFC wins, Adesanya won the interim middle weight title against Kelvin Castelum in April, 2019 and unified the champion with a talent victory against Robert Whittaker in October that year.

Onifade said that Adesanya was given a carnival-like welcome at the palace of the Owa-Omiran of Esa-Oke, Oba Alayeluwa Adeyemi Adediran on Thursday.

“The Esa-Oke born UFC star was ushered into the palace by traditional drummers in company of an enthusiastic crowd of highly elated youths and family members and other eminent Nigerians.

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“The elated Owa-Omiran was full of praises to God for the feats achieved by the young artist, and prayed extensively for his glory to continue to shine brighter and brighter to the glory of God.

“The revered Owa-Omiran announced that the Ananye ruling house born Israel will be honoured during the Esa-Oke Day celebration later this year,” he said.

According to him, Adesanya expressed gratitude to the traditional ruler and the entire community for the warm reception and the honour accorded him.

“Adesanya in his response said he was delighted to be back to his roots and promised to always make Nigeria proud,” he said.

Present at the reception include the Asalu of Esa-Oke, High Chief James Ajewole and the Odogun of Esa-Oke, High Chief Olatunde Esan; Looyin of Esa-Oke, Chief Wale Aregbesola; Sajuku of Esa-Oke, Chief Akinwumi Onifade.

Others include the Obalogbo of Esa-Oke, Chief Olabode Ajayi; Osolu of Esa-Oke, Chief Ajiboye; Aro of Erinjinyan, Esa-Oke, Chief Akanni Omole and the Loja of Kajola-Esa-Oke, Oba Akande Adebiyi.

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Joshua, 34, floored the UFC champion in the first round and early in the second.

A dazed Ngannou rose to his feet in Riyadh but was stunned by an explosive and formidable right moments later as the referee halted the contest.

The 37-year-old appeared to be out before he even hit the canvas and required medical treatment.

“I’m going back to my cage and when they let me out, I’ll fight again,” Joshua said, as WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury watched on from ringside.

Fury made tough work of Ngannou in October when he was dropped by the debutant before edging a points win.

“When I saw the fight with Tyson Fury I thought ‘I want some of that’. [Ngannou] is a great champion and this doesn’t take anything away from his capabilities,” said Joshua.

“I told him not to leave boxing. He’s two fights in and he’s fought the best.”

Victory is two-time world champion Joshua’s fourth in 11 months, and keeps alive his ambition of recapturing a world title.

Eddie Hearn called for Joshua, who he has promoted throughout the heavyweight’s pro career, to face the winner of Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.

The pair will fight to become the undisputed heavyweight world champion in May, with a rematch later in the year.

“In five years I won’t be fighting,” Joshua added. “Eddie Hearn and my team will shape my future.”

A knockout for the highlight reels

With the card running more than an hour later than planned, it was 03:20 local time when master of ceremonies Michael Buffer introduced Ngannou to the ring.

Dressed in a pink and white robe with gold tassels, Ngannou made the solitary walk down the aisle to the tune of ‘God’s Plan’ by Drake.

A frowning Joshua looked full of purpose as he strutted to the ring with confidence.

He kneeled down and recited a prayer in his corner.

Joshua drew the loudest reaction, a mixture of boos and jeers.

He seemed completely undeterred, his eyes set firmly on Ngannou.

And it was a near-perfect start for the Watford-born fighter.

Ngannou had just narrowly missed with a lead left hand as Joshua remained calm and composed.

AJ extended his backhand to land a flush right down the pipe.

READ ALSO: EXTRA: Joshua can still win a belt, By Kunle Awosiyan

By flooring Ngannou, he had done within three minutes what Fury failed to do in 10 rounds four months ago.

A stunned Ngannou got up on the count of eight and saw out the round.

Joshua has become a smarter fighter in recent years, honing his technical ability.

He doubled his jab, bided his time and waited for an opening.

Another right hand had Ngannou clamouring on the floor.

He beat the count in the nick of time but the writing was on the wall.

The finishing punch was one which will undoubtedly take centre stage in future Joshua knockout highlights reel.

A statement win in Saudi

A well-schooled amateur boasting Olympic gold and a two-time world champion with wins against some of the best in the division, Joshua’s experience prevails in the early hours in Riyadh.

The razzmatazz of Saudi boxing was on show, albeit still under the backdrop of critics claiming the Kingdom is using high-profile sporting events to ‘sports wash’ away its human rights records.

While it was not the star studded affair seen in past event in the region, former champions Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao rubbed shoulders with the likes of football manager Jose Mourinho and Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldo.

The card was billed as ‘knockout chaos’ but the Saudi crowd – as they usually do – behaved in a very quiet and orderly manner.

The pressure was on Joshua to deliver a message to rival Fury.

A fighter who has faced an intense level of scrutiny in recent years, Joshua acknowledged the impact of trainer Ben Davison.

Davison was in Joshua’s corner for the second time, having also overseen December’s dominant win over Otto Wallin.

“I didn’t want to disrespect Ngannou but he’s not been hit by someone like AJ before,” Davison told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I’ll let people judge whether he is improving. The only way to find out who is the best is to get the winner of Fury and Usyk. That’s the only thing that makes sense.”

Whether Ngannou listens to Joshua’s advice and returns to the sport anytime soon awaits to be soon, but the ‘Predator’ is a proven winner – whether it be in life, the UFC octagon or a boxing ring.

His journey has taken him from a 12-year-old working in sand quarry in Cameroon to living on the streets of Paris, before becoming UFC champion.

Although his childhood dream of becoming a boxing world champion may never become reality, Ngannou is set to return to MMA later this year with the PFL in search of his next prey.

Source: BBC

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The win for Joshua meant he kept himself on track for a lucrative payday against American Deontay Wilder next year.

Helenius, stepping in after Britain’s Dillian Whyte was ruled out of the non-title fight by a dope test a week ago, lasted longer than expected.

But he crashed to the canvas one minute and 27 seconds into the round.

Some of the crowd at London’s 02, who had grown restless with some booing already in the third round, were heading for the exit by then as Joshua failed to deliver immediate fireworks.

The big Briton looked nervous and stiff at the start and strangely tentative when Helenius, who fought in Finland only a week ago, appeared to be out on his legs and ready for the taking.

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Joshua climbed straight out of the ring without saying a word after referee Victor Loughlin stopped the contest.

He then fist-bumped fans, stopping to share a swig of a drink with watching former UFC champion Conor McGregor, before stepping back inside the ropes.

Helenius meanwhile received medical attention and some oxygen before getting back on his feet.

“I knew this would happen, everyone’s talking about the new AJ and the old AJ.

“And after two or three rounds the crowd starts to get a little bit impatient.

“He finds the measure of his right hand and he delivers one of the knockouts of the year on Robert Helenius… this is just the AJ you’re going to see now.

“He still got to be more aggressive than we saw tonight but there’s a lot on the line,” Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, told reporters.

The knockout was the 23rd of Joshua’s career, taking his record to 26 wins and three defeats, but his first since December 2020.

This was when he beat Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev in a WBA, IBO, IBF and WBO title defence in London.

Joshua lost those belts to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021.

There has been talk of Joshua fighting Wilder, the former WBC champion, next year.

But the Briton needs to keep winning to be talked about in the same breath as the American and reigning champion, Tyson Fury.

“It’s hard for him to get up for fights like this. The Wilder fights, the Fury fights, that’s what he wants,” said Hearn.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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He downed the Brazilian in the second round to avenge his only UFC defeat at middleweight.

After a cagey opening frame that saw Pereira target Adesanya’s lead leg with brutal kicks, the fight burst into life in the second, with both men landing head kicks early.

But Adesanya’s crisp boxing soon began to tell.

With the second round winding down, Adesanya was backed up against the cage.

But he suddenly uncorked a huge right hand and followed it up with another to knock Pereira out cold and take back the belt he lost to the Brazilian in November.

Adesanya followed Pereira down to the mat but referee Dan Mirgliotta waved the fight off, returning the Nigerian-born New Zealander to the top of the middleweight pile.

This is a weight class he has dominated for the last four years.

“I played possum a bit … look at me, I am here, he is here, that last one (punch) had everything. That last hammer fist was from the gods,” Adesanya said in a post-fight interview in the cage.

The 33-year-old told the fans in attendance that he hoped they would have the chance to feel the same joy that he was feeling in that moment.

“If you stay down, you will never ever get that resolve. Fortify your mind and feel this level of happiness as you rise,” said Adesanya, who had never beaten Pereira in MMA or kickboxing in three previous meetings.

In the co-main event, local favourite Jorge Masvidal announced his retirement in the cage after losing a unanimous decision to Brazil’s Gilbert Burns.

Source: Reuters/NAN

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The win for Edwards at the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, U. S. on Saturday was one of the greatest comebacks in mixed martial arts history.

The 30-year old Jamaican-born British fighter, looked to be headed for a defeat on the judges’ scorecards.

But then faked a jab with his left hand and then landed a left-foot kick to the head that sparked the 35-year old Nigerian, to claim the belt.

Commenting via his twitter handle @usman84kg, the Nigerian congratulated Edwards on the victory.

“Champs f$ck up sometimes… but we bounce back and come with vengeance!!

“Damn I love this sport!!! Things happen but… Alhamdulillah we move!! Congratulations @Leon_edwardsmma,” Usman tweeted.

Usman had defeated Edwards in their previous meeting in 2015 but this victory makes the 30-year old the second British fighter to hold a UFC title after Michael Bisping in 2016.

Source: NAN

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Behind on points in the fifth, Edwards, 30, landed a left high-kick to stun Nigeria’s pound-for-pound number one fighter.

Edwards becomes the first British champion since Michael Bisping in 2016 and only the second in history.

“You all doubted me, saying I couldn’t do it – look at me now,” said Edwards.

“I’m from the trenches. I’m built like this. I’ve been doubted my whole life but look at me now.”

In beating Usman, Birmingham’s Edwards avenges his defeat in 2015 and ends the 35-year-old’s 15-fight unbeaten streak in the UFC.

Jamaican-born Edwards, who was a big underdog with bookmakers going into the bout, extends his winning streak to 10 following the defeat to Usman seven years ago.

READ ALSO: Adesanya outpoints Cannonier to retain UFC middleweight title

Usman won the first fight by using his wrestling to control the majority of the contest – a tactic Edwards says opened his eyes to weaknesses in his own grappling game.

Following that bout Edwards worked hard on his wrestling and the improvements made were evident from the start of the rematch.

In the first round he tripped Usman, becoming the first fighter in UFC history to complete a takedown on the Nigerian.

Usman responded strongly in the second and third round, pressuring Edwards with flurries of strikes and controlling much of the contest with his grappling.

At the end of the round Edwards’ corner loudly urged their fighter to up his game and “get his hands moving”.

Edwards started to show signs of fatigue in the fourth, brought on by the relentless grappling from Usman, as the champion landed an effortless takedown and continued to control the fight.

With Usman likely ahead on points going into the fifth Edwards needed something special – and the Briton delivered.

With a feint he lured Usman’s head to the side, before landing a clean left high-kick, leaving the Nigerian stunned on the canvas.

Edwards jumped on the cage in celebration as the enormity of what he had achieved started to sink in.

UFC commentator Joe Rogan said the kick which ended the fight was potentially the best he’s seen in the UFC, with Edwards shocking Usman in the fifth while behind on points being arguably the sport’s biggest ever upset.

“I was born in Jamaica with nothing – look at me now”

Edwards was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, before he moved to the UK at the age of nine.

His father was a leader of a gang in Jamaica, which meant Edwards was exposed to gang violence, including shootings, from a young age.

At the age of 13 Edwards’ father was murdered, which pushed him into Birmingham’s gang culture, before he eventually escaped via mixed martial arts when he joined a fighting gym four years later.

Training in MMA was the outlet Edwards needed to channel his energy into something positive, and his dedication showed as he rose through the ranks after joining the UFC.

Following victory over Usman, an emotional Edwards paid tribute to his mother.

“I was born in Jamaica with nothing. I lived in a wooden shed with a zinc roof. Look at me now, he said.

“Pound for pound, head shot, dead. That’s it.

“I said it’s possible, we can win a belt from the UK, I told you.”

He continued: “I want to first of all thank God. Mum, I love you, I told you I’d do it for you, I told you I’d change your life.

“All week I felt like this is my moment, everything in the past, the two years, the pandemic, look at me now, I’m champion of the world.

“Thank you Dana [White – UFC president], and to the UFC for giving an opportunity to a kid who was born with nothing, thank you.”

Source: BBC

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As the first African-born and Nigerian UFC champion, President Buhari commended the courageous fighter for finishing strong inside the octagon, proudly flying the green and white colours in distant lands.

He was said to have reminded the world that good things and great people still come out of Nigeria.

While the global COVID-19 pandemic might have brought gloom to many families and nations, the president  was delighted and gratified that “our welterweight champion has lifted our spirits with another professional performance proving that things would surely get better at the fullness of time when we remain committed to our vision.”

The president wished Usman the very best and more victories in his career and prayed that like fine wine, he improved with age.

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He knocked out his opponent, Colby Covington.

In a statement by NIDCOM Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa said that by the wonderful feat, Usman had brought honour and glory not only to himself but to African continent.

Dabiri-Erewa, who barely a week ago, extended the same courtesies, to Anthony Joshua, another Nigerian,  for reclaiming his World heavyweight title, said that the Nigerian-American mixed martial artist, Kamaru Usman recorded his name in the history book of wrestling, by becoming the first African champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

She noted that the victory made it 15 straight wins for Usman who is now 11- 0 in UFC.

“This is something to be proud of,” she said.

Dabiri-Erewa said that Nigeria was proud of Usman’s performance, urging him not to relent in bringing honour and glory to the country.

She reiterated her appeals to Nigerians living abroad to continue to be of good behaviour and show that Nigerians could be great wherever they found themselves.

Kamarudeen Usman, born in Auchi, Edo State, travelled to the United States at the age of seven.

In high school, Usman became a top rated wrestler with an out-going record of 53 wins and 3 losses.

In July 2015, Usman won the Welter Weight Division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC, against the American fighter, Heither.

Usman is the seventh ranked pound-for-pound UFC fighter.

He recorded his name in the history book of wrestling, by becoming the first African champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

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