“Hot Ones” – or, as Kamaru Usman might now call it, “The Nigerian’s Nightmare.” The popular internet show has taken down many celebrities and athletes during its six-year run, and the UFC welterweight champion was no different during his episode that premiered Thursday.
To his credit, Usman didn’t tap out. But eating 10 spicy chicken wings escalating in heat from mild to “the inside of my mouth feels like a volcano” was a struggle.
At wing No. 3, Usman showed his first sign of feeling it. When he got to No. 6, he was hurting and started drinking ice water out of a pitcher. Then we got to wing No. 8 with the dreaded Da’ Bomb, the sauce that humbles everybody, and Usman was no different.
“That’s barbecue sauce. That ain’t bad,” Usman said after his first bite.
Two seconds later? “Oh, that’s not barbecue at all. That’s not even a wing. What is that?”
From that point on, Usman was hurting. He couldn’t stop drinking water or milk, and finished off the interview mostly with an ice cube in his mouth. But he finished, and that’s all that matters.
Good times!
Of note from the interview with host Sean Evans:
- Usman talked about his desire to break his opponents mentally through fatigue.
- The male and female fighters he appreciates watching the most right now are fellow UFC champions Francis Ngannou and Rose Namajunas.
- His philosophy on the trash-talking aspect of the fight game.
- When asked if there was a fight that stands out as his most satisfying, Usman highlighting his fifth-round TKO of Colby Covington at UFC 245.
Usman is the third MMA fighter to make an appearance on “Hot Ones,” joining UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey and former UFC interim lightweight champ Dustin Poirier who went before him.
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Video: Kamaru Usman endures grueling battle vs. spicy wings on ‘Hot Ones’
