Mohammed Usman

Following in the footsteps of his ‘big’ brother, Mohammed Usman will make his pro MMA debut tomorrow night (Thursday 18) for Tachi Palace Fights from Lemoore, California. A 250 lbs man mountain, Mohammed Usman was considered one of the best high school heavyweight wrestlers in Texas state, before making the switch to ply his trade at defensive end for the Arizona Wildcats. For some time, Mohammed harboured aspirations of competing in the NFL, and under the guidance of Wildcats senior Brooks Reed, progressed nicely. But, when things did not work out as Mohammed had initially hoped, Usman made the decision to switch sports one more time.

Given the circumstances, the decision to take up MMA made perfect sense. His older brother, The Ultimate Fighter Season 21 winner, 10-1 (5-0 UFC) star Kamaru ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Usman, has long been an inspiration to Mohammed. Even when he was committed to college football, Mohammed was always there in Kamaru’s corner, watching, supporting, and, by proxy, learning. Now Mohammed is just hours away from the first pro fight of his career.

In his way stands 36 year old, 9-fight veteran Derrick ‘Alpha Male’ Williams, a big 260 lb heavyweight with 3 first round TKO’s to his name. While Mohammed will likely walk into Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino as the favourite to take the bout, a debut is never a sure thing. Fortunately, Auchi, Nigerian born Usman is a physical specimen with an outstanding athletic background and a team behind him led by one of the top-ranked welterweights in the world.

Of Kamaru, Mohammed told The MMA Vanguard: “I’m very proud of my older brother. He motivates me to be the best I can be, and his achievements in the UFC have shown me what can be done if you believe in yourself and your talents.”

Belief, alone, however, is far from Mohammed’s only asset. As a footballer, Mohammed displayed excellent explosiveness, and real speed for a man his size. What’s more, Usman has spoken publicly about how being ‘football fit’ is far from being ‘MMA fit’. As he explained in a previous interview, when you’re in the cage, you’re all alone. There is no team, no ‘us’, no ‘we’. Just you, and your opponent. And for Mohammed, facing up to that reality is a major part of his upcoming trials.

But let’s not pretend Mohammed is walking into the Tachi Palace cage without knowing all of this. He has seen first hand what it takes to win, the levels of endurance necessary, and the skills that need to be honed. He’s also taken a keen enjoyment in this new chapter of his sporting career. He told us: “My favorite aspect of wrestling and MMA is the violence, and the [opportunity to] use your athletic abilities,” adding, “I have always been an aggressive person in all sports, hence why wrestling and football came easy to me.”

Mohammed will no doubt be hoping he can say the same of MMA – but in truth, he won’t know until the cage door closes for the last time, and Derrick Williams comes forward to meet him mid-cage. “I would be lying if I said I don’t get nervous,” Usman says honestly, “But when they lock that cage I’m bringing a war. Kill or be killed, period.”

It’s a dog-eat-dog mentality, and as a self-professed aggressor, it’s unlikely Williams will have to wait long to feel the power of the former defensive end. It’s a rhetoric Usman adheres to even when reminiscing about his time at the Arizona Wildcats: “The work rate that I got from [working with] Brooks Reed definitely transfers to MMA because I won’t quit, and I will keep coming till I break my opponent.”

What’s more, Usman knows how fortunate he is to debut for Tachi Palace Fights, a fight promotion with years of history and heritage behind them, and who have developed their fair share of outstanding prospects: “The opportunity means the world to me because I have put my heart into this sport, and I’m ready to start this new chapter of my career as a pro MMA fighter.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, Mohammed is clear about his strategy. Forward, forward, forward: “My strategy for this fight will be pressure, pressure, and more pressure. [I’ll be] non stop, I’m the ‘Motor’ for a reason and I will show it.” Williams will have to be at his best to counteract the coming storm. But pressure alone, particularly among heavyweights, is not always the perfect strategy.

Heavyweights are big men, and Usman has a huge amount of muscle packed onto his 6’1 frame. Muscle needs oxygen, and oxygen requires cardio. So what does Mohammed think of his present shape, and his ability to endure? Does he feel he is a good weight heading in to this bout? “My weight has never been a problem,” he says confidently. “As I grow in this sport I will figure out the best weight for me to be, if it’s heavier not a problem, or lighter not a problem [either]. I have always made sure to be in the best shape possible.”

Judging from the footage we’ve seen, we’ve no reason to doubt that kind of statement. Speed, size, power, and endurance have all been present – but much as a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt might see his razor sharp skills blunt with every strike they take, Mohammed will have to prove he can maintain his athleticism in the face of damage delivered upon him as well as the other way round. Fortunately, Usman is not taking his opponent lightly: “I expect him to be confident,” he says, “He has had a couple of fights, but have never faced anybody like me. It will be a great fight.”

Of that, The MMA Vanguard has no doubt!

You can catch Tachi Palace Fights 31: Diaz vs Gibson live on sherdog.com at 6 PM PST.

Logan Storley

It’s hard to overstate the influence wrestling has had on the development of Mixed Martial Arts. The annals are filled with records set by collegiate wrestlers and Olympians alike, with almost every major promotion sporting champions with legitimate wrestling backgrounds. Even now, the grappling art remains one of the most effective bases for any MMA skill set, and the evidence to back up that statement is not hard to find; there is a prolificacy of title holders the world over that have dominated some aspect of wrestling. The UFC, for example, boasts Miocic, Cormier, Woodley, Garbrandt and Demetrious Johnson amongst their title holders. Bellator has Phil Davis and Michael Chandler. ONE Championship, likewise, plays host to one of the best in the world in Ben Askren. It’s difficult, in fact, to conceive of a credible, top-level company who don’t promote an eminent former wrestler amongst their elite.

When a prospect emerges from the wrestling talent pool, then, it’s only natural that heads will be turned. That is exactly what we are seeing with former four-time NCAA Division I All American Logan ‘Storm’ Storley. Courting more and more attention from elite MMA circles, Storley has the kind of enviable record that has propelled many a fighter to stardom in the past, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Top-level wrestlers are not only extremely tough and durable athletes by nature, they also tend to be marketable stars – particularly in North America.

Storley, for his part, started wrestling at 5 years old, and told MMA Vanguard that he always enjoyed the one on one competition inherent in one of the most physically and mentally gruelling martial art forms. Becoming a four-time All American, naturally, isn’t easy. There are no short cuts. For Storley, success came by way of time spent in the practice room – and lots of it – as well as a mastery of the oft-maligned science behind weight cutting. Fortunately for Storley, such strenuous personal investments continue to repay themselves in spades.

At 5-0 in MMA, Storley might ordinarily be considered a rookie; but as previously touched upon, elite wrestlers remain highly sought after. It would be no surprise, then, to see Storley’s name linked with a major promotion at any time; though in truth, Storley already represents a great company in Legacy Fighting Alliance, having remained in the fold after his previous employers, Resurrection Fighting Alliance, merged with Legacy FC.

Still, Storley’s goal remains to become a world champion and go down as one of MMA’s all-time greats. A lofty ambition no doubt, but one made more likely thanks to his time at Michigan State University competing amongst the collegiate ranks for the Gophers. That opportunity allowed him to showcase his skills at the highest level in the NCAA, and has given him a huge headstart in MMA as well. This is, now, the sport that allows him to take care of the people that took care of him growing up, and for that Storley is grateful.

The results don’t hurt, mind. South Dakota native Bill Mees, a five-fight veteran, welcomed Storley to the sport in August of 2015. He lasted 2 minutes 32 seconds before succumbing to a TKO finish. Debutant Marc Hummel lasted slightly longer, despite being put on his back within seconds of their bout at RFA 43 three months later. Storley never looked like losing position as he pressured and terrorized Hummel with an airtight top game in a performance that culminated in a ground and pound finish from mount at 3:17. So far, so good for the South Dakota native who had switched to Gilbert, Arizona to train at Power MMA under the tutelage of Ryan Bader, Aaron Simpson and CB Dollaway.

In March 2016, Lemetra Griffin stepped up with an uninspiring record of 1-4. He duly lasted 33 seconds before meeting the same fate, though the damage this time was inflicted on the feet. By this point, Storley needed a step up in competition, and he got it in the form of undefeated Cody Lincoln (3-0), a veteran re-emerging after a seven-year sabbatical. Storley’s takedowns and top control again took precedence, but Lincoln’s active guard and ground game posed more questions than had been previously asked. Lincoln, to his credit, survived the first stanza. He would not last long in the second, however.

Approaching Storley in a bid to cut off the cage, Lincoln walked straight into an enormous power right that floored him on impact. Storley swarmed on the ground, and the fight was done with just 13 seconds having elapsed. It almost felt like an apology to fans who had anticipated another first round finish!

Following the aforementioned merger that created Legacy Fighting Alliance, Storley would compete again, this time against 36 year old Andres Murray this past weekend. There was a familiarity to the result, yet another TKO, this time with just 73 seconds on the clock. If ever there was evidence that Storley was ready for a big opportunity, it was the manner and nature of yet another comprehensive stoppage victory.

Storley, like many wrestling greats, has the luxury of being able to focus attention on his stand up, in particular his hands, secure in the knowledge that his background lends him an ability to dictate the style and content of most fights. If he wants to take it to the ground, few can stop him; if he decides to contest a fight on the feet, again, few can impose a different strategy. How Storley performs against more highly-rated competition remains to be seen – but from what the MMA Vanguard has already witnessed, we would not be surprised to see Storley fighting at the highest level in the not-so-distant future. It’s not a question of ‘if’; it’s all about ‘when’.