Nigerian UFC fighters: Usman, Adesanya and their records
Two Nigerian-born fighters, Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya, held UFC titles at the same time. Here is how they did it and where they are now.
Last updated: 6 October 2026.
Nigerian UFC fighters have achieved some of the biggest results in the promotion’s history. Two Nigerian-born men, Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya, held UFC titles at the same time, and Usman was the first African-born UFC champion. This guide profiles the main Nigerian-born fighters, gives their official records, explains how fans and the UFC decide who counts as “Nigerian”, and covers where their careers stand in October 2026. Records come from UFC.com athlete profiles, with fight details checked against BBC Sport, CNN and the fighters’ career records.
The short answer
- Kamaru Usman (“The Nigerian Nightmare”), born in Auchi, Edo State. Former welterweight champion, UFC.com record 21-5-0.
- Israel Adesanya (“The Last Stylebender”), born in Lagos. Two-time middleweight champion, UFC.com record 24-6-0.
- Sodiq Yusuff (“Super”), born in Lagos. Lightweight contender, UFC.com record 13-5-0.
- First African-born champion: Usman, who beat Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 on 2 March 2019, BBC and CNN reported.
- Not Nigerian: former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is Cameroonian.
Kamaru Usman: from Auchi to the top of the welterweight division
Usman was born in Auchi in 1987. His family moved to Dallas, Texas, when he was eight. He became a top college wrestler, winning the NCAA Division II national title in 2010. He then won season 21 of The Ultimate Fighter, beating Hayder Hassan in the finale on 12 July 2015, and he beat a future champion, Leon Edwards, in his first official UFC fight in December 2015.
At UFC 235 on 2 March 2019 he dominated Tyron Woodley to win the welterweight title. He then defended the belt five times: twice against Colby Covington, twice against Jorge Masvidal, and once against Gilbert Burns. His 15 straight wins at welterweight is still the division record.
The run ended at UFC 278 on 20 August 2022, when Edwards knocked him out late in the fifth round. Usman lost the rematch at UFC 286. He then moved up to middleweight at ten days’ notice and lost to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in October 2023. After a two-year break he beat Joaquin Buckley by decision on 14 June 2025, but he lost to former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis on 18 July 2026.
Israel Adesanya: the Lagos-born striker
Adesanya was born in Lagos in 1989 and grew up mainly in New Zealand, where he settled at the age of 10. He had a long kickboxing career before switching to MMA, including two defeats to Alex Pereira in kickboxing.
He made his UFC debut on 11 February 2018. Fourteen months later, on 13 April 2019, he beat Kelvin Gastelum for the interim middleweight title at UFC 236. The UFC inducted that fight into the “fight wing” of its Hall of Fame in 2025. On 6 October 2019 he knocked out Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 to become undisputed champion, at the same time as Usman held the welterweight belt.
Adesanya lost the title to Pereira at UFC 281 in November 2022 and won it back by beating Pereira at UFC 287 on 8 April 2023. He then lost it to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023. Since then he has lost to du Plessis (UFC 305, August 2024), Nassourdine Imavov (February 2025) and Joe Pyfer (March 2026).
Sodiq Yusuff and other Nigerian-born fighters
Sodiq Yusuff, born in Lagos, made his UFC debut in December 2018 and now fights at lightweight. UFC.com lists his record as 13-5-0.
Not everyone with Nigerian roots was born in Nigeria. Heavyweight Kennedy Nzechukwu, for example, is listed by UFC.com as born in the United States, so we have not included him among the Nigerian-born fighters.
Who counts as a “Nigerian UFC fighter”?
- Born in Nigeria: Usman, Adesanya and Yusuff all fit this definition.
- Representing another country: Usman is Nigerian-American and Adesanya is Nigerian-New Zealander. Usman’s nickname, “The Nigerian Nightmare”, reflects how closely he is identified with his country of birth.
- Nigerian heritage: fighters born abroad to Nigerian families are often claimed by fans but are not counted here.
The 2019–2022 golden era
From October 2019, when Adesanya became undisputed middleweight champion, until Usman lost to Edwards in August 2022, two Nigerian-born men held UFC titles at the same time. For part of that period, Cameroon’s Ngannou was heavyweight champion too, and CNN described the three as the stars of a new generation of African fighters.
FAQ
Who was the first Nigerian UFC champion?
Kamaru Usman, who won the welterweight title at UFC 235 in March 2019. He was also the first African-born UFC champion.
How many Nigerian UFC champions have there been?
Two Nigerian-born men have held UFC titles: Usman (welterweight) and Adesanya (middleweight, twice).
Is Francis Ngannou Nigerian?
No. Ngannou is from Cameroon.
What is Kamaru Usman’s record?
UFC.com lists it as 21 wins, 5 losses and no draws, as of October 2026.
What is Israel Adesanya’s record?
UFC.com lists 24 wins, 6 losses and no draws. Five of his six losses have come since November 2022, starting with the title defeat to Pereira.
What to watch
Both Usman and Adesanya are in the later stages of their careers and coming off defeats. Their next bookings, and whether either fighter retires, are the biggest open questions for Nigerian MMA fans.
Related: Best Nigerian boxers of all time: Dick Tiger to Joshua; Chaos in the Ring results: Phyna and Carter Efe win in Lagos. More in our Viral & Trending section.
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