Usman More American Than Covington

Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC

Fight for the rights of (almost) every man!

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman, embodies the American dream. Instead of being born in some posh hospital in the suburbs of Swankville, U.S.A., “The Nigerian Nightmare” immigrated to the United States when he was eight years old and rose from promising young wrestler to mixed martial arts (MMA) world champion.

That’s why Usman believes he’s more American than top-ranked welterweight contender Colby Covington, who parades around town with the interim belt he lost earlier this year while also carrying on about his bromance with U.S. President Donald Trump. And yes, no appearance from “Chaos” would be complete without his red MAGA hat.

“I’m an immigrant who came here, worked his tail off to get to where I am,” Usman told Kristine Leahy on FAIR GAME (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “I did everything right. I didn’t cheat anybody. I didn’t lie, I didn’t do any of the things that they’re trying to say immigrants do. I didn’t do any of that. I paid my dues, and I got what he wanted. I’m sitting up here, and he’s down here looking up at me, so I need to remind him, I’m more American than he is. I’m the one living the American dream.”

Usman (15-1) hasn’t competed since dethroning Tyron Woodley at UFC 235 earlier this year in Las Vegas, thanks to an injury timeout that seemed to stretch on forever. In his absence, Covington (15-1) accepted a Robbie Lawler fight on ESPN and scored a dominant unanimous decision win over the “Ruthless” veteran.

“This country is built off of immigrants, so when did we get to the point where it’s like we need to divide, we need to push this immigrant out, or that immigrant, or separate, and so I feel like that’s what he’s pushing,” Usman said. “That’s what he’s trying to say, and I need to let him know that I am more American than he is. I am absolutely more American than he is.”

The score will be settled in the UFC 245 pay-per-view (PPV) main event on Dec. 14 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, a championship tripleheader that also features Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski and Amanda Nunes vs. Germaine de Randamie. Perhaps the winner of Usman vs. Covington can move on to fight this guy.