UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman believes very strongly that fellow compatriot, Israel Adesanya’s latest victory over Marvin Vettori shows that Nigerian fighters are the best.
Adesanyaon Sunday retained his title with a decisive performance against Vettori, getting back to winning ways with an outstanding five-round showing in the main event.
The win is Adesanya’s third title defence after losing to Jan Blachowicz in a bid to add the light heavyweight title to his laurels and the Nigerian-born won in grand style.
Adesanya after the win remains the undisputed 185-pound champion and in his second fight against Vettori in UFC 263, he achieved a unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45).
The pair had previously met when Adesanya claimed a split-decision victory over Vettori back in April of the year 2018 in the Nigerian-born Australian’s second UFC bout.
The stylebender as Adesanya is more commonly called by fans showed his class with a virtuoso performance as he picked apart the Italian’s defence over the full five rounds.
And while giving his reaction to Adesanya’s latest victory over Vettori, Usman said during his press conference with the media on Sunday that watching his “brother” win in grand style made him excited.
“It felt good watching him. He did something that he’s very good with and that’s being in control and dominating the first from start to finish,” he said. “It’s good to show everybody how far ahead we are in comparison to other guys in the UFC.”
Kamaru made his return to the country of his birth, Nigeria last week Thursday after leaving 26 years ago but despite hus very long absence, Usman revealed that he never lost touch with his roots.
“I had to represent where I was from. And after over 26 years, to finally come home, to see and touch my people, blow the pidgin that I’ve been holding for years, is fantastic and I’m truly grateful,” he said.
The Edo state-born fighter also said that his dream is to use his platform to influence Nigerian youths for the progress of the West African nation in the nearest possible future.
“The plan is to be able to use my platform to touch the youth because as we know, Nigeria is primarily about the youth and spark and effect change that’ll move our country forward,” he said.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin