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Martial Arts · Fighters

Nigerian Martial Arts Fighters

The Nigerian-born fighters who conquered the UFC, and the new wave coming through at home.

Anthony Joshua landing a right hand against Carlos Takam

Checked 30 September 2026

Nigeria’s MMA stars

Ranked by achievement. Boxers, judokas, karatekas and kickboxers have their own pages.

  1. 1Kamaru Usman
    Kamaru Usman at a UFC press conference in 2018. Photo: MMAnytt, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Kamaru Usman

    MMA · UFC welterweight

    Born 11 May 1987, Auchi

    Nigerian roots: born in Auchi, Edo State; moved to Texas at eight.

    • 21-5MMA
    • 5Title defences
    • 15UFC win streak

    First African-born UFC champion (2019).

    “The Nigerian Nightmare”.

  2. 2Israel Adesanya
    Israel Adesanya at UFC 230 in 2018. Photo: MMMAnytt, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Israel Adesanya

    MMA and kickboxing · UFC middleweight

    Born 22 July 1989, Lagos

    Nigerian roots: born in Lagos to Yoruba parents.

    • 24-6MMA
    • 75-5Kickboxing
    • 2xUFC champion

    Two-time UFC middleweight champion.

    “The Last Stylebender”.

  3. 3
    Photo coming soon: we only use free-licence or credited photos

    Sodiq Yusuff

    MMA · UFC lightweight

    Born 19 May 1993, Lagos

    Nigerian roots: born in Lagos; moved to the US at nine.

    • 13-5MMA
    • 2018UFC debut
    • FOTNv Barboza, 2023

    Performance of the Night on his UFC debut.

    Beat Andre Fili and Alex Caceres.

  4. 4
    Photo coming soon: we only use free-licence or credited photos

    Kennedy Nzechukwu

    MMA · UFC heavyweight

    Born 13 June 1992, Imo State

    Nigerian roots: born in Imo State; moved to the US in 2010.

    • 14-7-1MMA
    • 10KO wins
    • 3Performance bonuses

    2024 MMA All-Star.

    Fights out of Dallas, Texas.

  5. 5
    Photo coming soon: we only use free-licence or credited photos

    Wasi Adeshina

    MMA · PFL Africa featherweight

    Nigerian

    Nigerian roots: Nigerian fighter on the PFL Africa circuit.

    • 2025PFL Africa champion
    • Lagos2026 headliner
    • FWFeatherweight

    Won the 2025 PFL Africa featherweight tournament.

    Headlined the PFL’s first Nigerian event.

More Nigerian fighters

Fighters in every discipline

Quick answers

Nigerian fighters: quick answers

Who are the best Nigerian MMA fighters?

Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya, both former UFC champions, lead the list, followed by UFC fighters Sodiq Yusuff and Kennedy Nzechukwu and PFL Africa champion Wasi Adeshina.

Where was Kamaru Usman born?

In Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, on 11 May 1987. His family moved to Dallas, Texas, when he was eight.