Rising from humble beginnings, Kamaru Usman has inspired brother Mohammed

On Saturday night, Kamaru Usman will defend his welterweight title for the first time against bitter rival Colby Covington at UFC 245.

It’s been a wild ride for Usman (15-1 MMA, 10-0 UFC) – and no one has experienced the 32-year-old champion’s journey quite like his younger brother, Mohammed Usman.

A Titan Fighting heavyweight, Mohammed (5-1 MMA) draws great inspiration from his brother’s journey from humble beginnings in Nigeria to UFC title gold.

“It’s super motivational,” Mohammed told MMA Junkie. “Every time that I watch him or see his success, it’s a blueprint. I’ve seen how hard he works. I’ve seen everything he’s done. But it’s just the blueprint.

“You’ve got to take it one day at a time. One training session at a time. One fight at a time. Then eventually, you’ll be at the top. You’ll just beat everybody. Just take it one fight at a time and you’ll get to the top.”

Mohammed and Kamaru grew up in Auchi, a city in south central Nigeria. The struggles endured making their way in a third-world country were tough in the short-term. But in the long term? They are the ingredients Mohammed attributes to his family’s success.

“Our minds work in a different way where we’ve seen the bottom,” Mohammed said. “A lot of people have said they seen the bottom, but they don’t understand. Because they haven’t lived in a third world country where they have to walk miles to get food. People say they’re at the bottom, but you can still go to Jack In The Box and order a $5 sandwich. Like, ‘Man, I’m broke.’

“But you haven’t hard to walk five or six miles with our mom. Just so she can sell baby clothes, so we can eat that day. Then, we walk back home and live in a village with no electricity. I feel like what’s on my back and on my shoulders isn’t just success for my coaches and my family. It’s for my heritage. There’s more to it than just fighting for us. We’re trying to show the world that us Africans, us Nigerians, we’re a special breed.”

Mohammed said he and his brothers, Kamaru and Kash, hope to be an inspiration for those who come from nothing. Leading by example, the Usman brothers serve to prove how powerful self-belief is.

“I want people to take our story,” Mohammed said. “With Kamaru and Kash (a pharmacist), I want people to take our story and know. If you really believe in yourself deep down, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish if you put the effort.”

Every day, Mohammed walks into Texas’ Fortis MMA for a grueling training session. Before the hard work begins, the same image enters his mind. He visualizes himself standing next to his brother – UFC titles around both of their waists. Someday, Mohammed thinks his dream will become a reality.

“Before every training session, I visualize the belt around my waist,” Mohammed said. “And I visualize my brother standing right next to me with his belt. That’s all going to come to reality. Just visualization.

“I try to visualize myself with the belt all the time. And I know that time will come when that will happen. So if I keep doing that and then it will appear.”