Former UFC welterweight champ Kamaru Usman returns to action this weekend at UFC 286. He will challenge the current champ Leon Edwards for the 170 lbs championship following his shocking loss at UFC 278. In that event, Leon head-kicked Usman and left him unconscious with mere seconds left on the clock. Hence, this weekend is a prime chance for Kamaru to settle the score.
But not just the belt, there is a lot at stake for Usman. Before the loss to Leon Edwards, Usman was on a 15-fight winning streak and was just a few moments away from equalling Anderson Silva’s record of the longest win streak with 16 wins. Hence, the loss made an impact on his GOAT rankings as well. Although Dana White claims Usman to be the welterweight GOAT, the KO loss diminished his stock.
Usman did not just lose the crown, he also lost a lot of sponsorships because of the defeat as well. So Kamaru is determined to regain the belt and start a new reign as the champion. Hence, he had a very rigorous training camp to prepare himself for the event. But no matter how far away or busy he is with his fighting career, he never fails to be there for his daughter!
Kamaru Usman missed time with his daughter for UFC 286 fight camp
Time and time again, Kamaru Usman has proved that he is an ultimate family man. From having his family inside the Octagon post-fight to giving his daughter the credit for his career, Usman has a sense of belonging to his loved ones. In the recently released UFC 286: Countdown Video, Usman revealed a very bittersweet story about being a fighter and the toll it takes on his family life.
In the middle of his UFC 286 fight camp, Usman received a call from his daughter Samirah. Samirah had signed up for a father-daughter dance class while Usman was away. Without a moment’s hesitation, Usman hopped on a plane to meet his daughter and took her to the dance class. While the two dressed up and went dancing, it made Usman realize that he was missing a big chunk of Samirah’s upbringing.
Usman added, “It’s a little tougher now because you start to really see the time missed. You start to notice that they change in a way to where you’re like, ‘oh, that’s new.’ They were saying those before and they weren’t doing this before. When I’m there, I try to be as present as possible.”
“She reminds me that everything is going to be okay. It doesn’t matter how bad of a day I had at work, It doesn’t matter how bad I got beat up, It doesn’t matter if I lose a fight. When I come back, I’m still daddy in her eyes,” said “The Nigerian Nightmare.”
Although Kamaru Usman has to spend time away from his daughter, it will have been worth it if he regains the title. At the age of 35, it is hard to imagine Usman having another decade in the sport. Once he secures his legacy, Usman will perhaps have all the time in the world for his family. But before that, Usman needs to take care of business on March 18, at The O2 Arena in London.
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