Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has praised Nigerian-born mixed martial artist, Kamaru Usman, for his impressive win at UFC Atlanta, describing it as a moment of national pride.
Usman, popularly known as the “Nigerian Nightmare,” secured a unanimous decision victory over American opponent Joaquin Buckley in the early hours of Sunday, ending a nearly four-year winless streak and reaffirming his elite status in the sport.
Reacting via her official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Dabiri-Erewa posted a congratulatory message alongside a collage of photos from the event, including a throwback of herself with Usman holding his UFC title belt in 2021.
“Congratulations to the Nigerian Nightmare, Kamaru Usman, as he beats Joaquin Buckley at UFC Atlanta. Proudly Nigerian. Hearty congratulations,” she wrote.
In the five-round welterweight contest, Usman demonstrated superior control, landing major strikes and executing successful takedowns. Judges scored the fight 49–46, 49–46, and 48–47 in his favour, confirming a decisive victory.
“It feels good. It’s been a while,” Usman said in his post-fight interview. “I needed to get that monkey off my back. I know I’m still able to do this at the highest level.”
The 37-year-old, now holding a professional record of 21 wins and four losses, used his experience and wrestling skills to neutralize Buckley’s aggressive style. Despite a strong fifth round from the American, Usman’s earlier dominance secured the win.
Addressing ongoing speculation about his physical condition, especially regarding his knees, Usman fired back at critics: “Everybody wants to get on the internet and talk sht, ‘Oh his knees, his knees.’ Well, shut the f** up. I can still do what I do.”
The victory, his first since November 2021, could be the beginning of a fresh title run. Usman hinted at another championship pursuit, vowing to challenge whoever holds the belt next.
“I could do that to anybody, any one of them,” he declared. “Those knockouts will come. The next one, whoever it is for that title, I’mma see about you.”
Visibly emotional, Usman expressed gratitude to his supporters and team, noting the absence of his daughter, which made the victory even more emotional.
“It’s been a long time. A lot of emotions, a lot of things that I had to battle back from. I’m holding back all the emotions,” he added.
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