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Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman is not the only professional fighter from the Usman clan. UFC heavyweight Mohammed Usman is Kamaru's younger brother.
With a professional MMA record of 10-2, Mohammed Usman is one of the brightest up-and-coming fighters in the UFC's heavyweight division. He earned his UFC contract by winning the The Ultimate Fighter Season 30 tournament.
In the finals, Usman defeated Zac Pauga via a second-round KO to make a grand entry in the UFC. He last competed against Junior Tafa at UFC Fight Night: Pavovich vs. Blaydes and emerged victoriously by unanimous decision.
Before signing with the UFC, Mohammed competed in PFL. In an interview with Fansided MMA, Mohammed revealed that the lucrative offer presented by the PFL made him reconsider fighting on the UFC canvas.
"I was [talking] with everybody, I had Bellator, UFC, One FC. At the very last point when PFL reached out to me, I was just thinking I’d probably go to UFC like my brother, but PFL just came with a better offer, simple as that. At the end of the day, this sport isn’t forever. I like their format and how their seasons work, and I just liked it. It just made sense to me at that time.”
Growing up, both Mohammed and Kamaru Usman were gifted with amazing physical attributes. Mohammed aspired to be a professional football player and was recruited as a defensive end by the Arizona Wildcats. However, looking at the success his older brother achieved in MMA, Mohammed decided to reroute his interest to professional fighting.
Kamaru and Mohammed Usman have had a life full of struggles
Hailing from the city of Auchi in Nigeria, the Usman brothers went through a tough childhood before shifting to the United States. Basic amenities like electricity and transportation were scarce and the brothers walked for many miles each day to sell clothes with their mother. Despite the struggles, Mohammed and Kamaru Usman made it through. They became the first siblings in UFC history to win the TUF tournament.
Kamaru Usman went on to become one of the most dominant champions in UFC history and defeated elite competitors like Tyron Woodley, Colby Covington, Gilbert Burns, Jorge Masvidal, and Demian Maia, to name a few.
Mohammed Usman also wants to follow in the footsteps of his brother and hold the championship belt. In an interview with MMA junkie, Mohammed Usman said:
"I visualize my brother standing right next to me with his belt. That’s all going to come to reality. Just visualization. I try to visualize myself with the belt all the time. And I know that time will come when that will happen. So if I keep doing that and then it will appear.”
Mohammed Usman last competed against Jake Collier on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 228 and emerged victoriously via unanimous decision.
