Sodiq Yusuff: Nigerian MMA star set for UFC 300 against Diego Lopes

Nigerian MMA star Sodiq Yusuff set for UFC 300 against Diego Lopes.

Sodiq Yusuff: Nigerian MMA star set for UFC 300 against Diego Lopes

Tosin Abayomi 10:10 - 22.03.2024

Nigerian MMA star Sodiq Yusuff set for UFC 300 against Diego Lopes.

There is news about Nigerian Mixed Martial Artist (MMA) Sodiq Yusuff.

Diego Lopes and Sodiq Yusuff will square off on the preliminary card of UFC 300, which is scheduled to take place on April 13 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the UFC has confirmed.

At UFC Vegas 81, Yusuff was defeated by Edson Barboza via unanimous decision, but he did win Fight of the Night.

Yusuff, who now stands No. 12 in the UFC featherweight rankings as a result of the defeat will try to hold onto that standing against Lopes.

Nigerian MMA star Sodiq Yusuff set for UFC 300 against Diego Lopes.
Nigerian UFC star Sodiq Yusuff shines in Disney animated miniseries Iwaju.

Sodiq Yusuff on UFC 300

He took to social media to show appreciation ahead of the upcoming UFC 300.

He said, "(Appreciation Post) As I started fighting, one thing that was always said to me was that I can’t trust mma managers, how much they lie, and it’s a dirty game.

Nigerian MMA star Sodiq Yusuff set for UFC 300 against Diego Lopes.
From the UFC to Lagos - Nigerian UFC star Sodiq Yusuff returns to fight in Lagos.

"He said that out of all of the managers his fighters dealt with, there was only one manager that he trusted and had never lied nor broken his word, which he said was practically unheard of.

"He said you're like my son, and there is only one person he would have me sign to, and that was @suckerpunchent

"I had my pro debut April 2016, contender fight July 2018 and made my ufc debut December 2018.

Nigerian MMA star Sodiq Yusuff set for UFC 300 against Diego Lopes.
Nigerian UFC star Sodiq Yusuff shines in Disney animated miniseries Iwaju.

"Now I’ve been in the ufc for the last 6 years I can’t even count on my hands the number of times other managers have contacted me or my coach promising the World if I was to switch to them.

"My coach warned me about all of the tricks and stuff tactics that will be used to try to poach fighters, so when I heard it, I could laugh.

"It was like I had a manager poaching playbook and knew all of the plays in advance.

Nigerian MMA star Sodiq Yusuff set for UFC 300 against Diego Lopes.
Yusuff is a huge Featherweight, one of the stronger men in the UFC division. - UFC

"Now I’m not saying there aren’t other good managers out there, but my coach has coached in the ufc for the last 19 years, and I’ve been in the ufc for 6 years.

"In that time, Brian butler has never done anything remotely shady, and it’s 1000% the opposite.

"I was going into my next fight on the last fight on my contract . Butler said don’t worry about it, just train, and I’ll take care of the rest.""

Nigerian MMA star Sodiq Yusuff set for UFC 300 against Diego Lopes.
Barboza attempted two leg locks, but Yusuff escaped them and held the lead for the duration of the lopsided round. - X/UFC

"Well, yesterday, I just signed a brand new ufc contract, and I’ll just say dreams do come true.

"{When I told my mom, she just dropped everything and started dancing for joy.

"It was the type of contract I only had dreams about when I first started.

Nigerian MMA star Sodiq Yusuff to fight Diego Lopes at UFC 300 showdown.
Nigerian UFC star Sodiq Yusuff shines in Disney animated miniseries Iwaju.

"To my young fighters with dreams of getting to the ufc, choosing a manager is an important decision.

"Please don’t get caught up with the glitz and glamour.

"Just always remember things are not always as they seem, and people will flat out lie to you to get you to sign a contract.

"If you're at all serious about fighting at the ufc level, you owe it to yourself to at least meet with @suckerpunchent. PS SEE YOU ALL AT 300 👊🏿💪🏿🇳🇬."

This comes as Sodiq features as a voice on the animated miniseries "Iwájú," which is currently available for streaming onDisney+.

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