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Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Daniel Cormier Show – Kamaru Usman on Getting Knocked Out by Leon Edwards, UFC Title Run, Beating Buckley

Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Daniel Cormier
Guest: Kamaru Usman

Episode Overview

This special episode of The Daniel Cormier Show delves deep into the life and legacy of Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman, one of UFC’s most dominant welterweights. Host Daniel Cormier moves past championship highlights to explore Usman’s upbringing in Nigeria, his wrestling and fighting journey, the immense emotion of defeat and victory, his evolution as a man, father and mentor, and the permanent imprint left by those who shaped him—particularly Rashad Evans and the late Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson. Usman offers personal, candid insight into life after the belt, the pain and growth found in loss (notably his knockout at the hands of Leon Edwards), and the importance of legacy off the mat.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Life After the Belt: Adjusting to a New Chapter

Transition from Champion to Contender:
- Usman shares how being champion brought constant anxiety: “There’s this chip on your shoulder… you’re always looking over your shoulder. You hit a lick by having a title, and now you’re always looking—are they coming to get me?” (06:24)
- Now, he embraces presence and balance: “I’m more comfortable in understanding that… right now, I don't need to dwell on that.” (06:52)
The Battle for Balance:
- Juggling the fighter mentality and family life:
  “Now you gotta go to tennis practice. Maybe change a diaper. Those things pull you emotionally away from that consistent anxiety about the next move and fighting and this guy and the next guy.” (08:52)

The Journey: From Nigeria to National Champion to World Champion

Childhood in Nigeria:
- Vividly recalls his childhood in humble beginnings: “There’s just these three little boys running around just causing mayhem… My mom had a little… convenience store… We farmed… but I don’t remember any moment I was unhappy.” (32:11)
Immigration and Assimilation:
- On moving to the US for opportunity: “We come from a culture of people… ambitious and relentless in their pursuit of excellence… but… there’s only ten spots and a million people running that race.” (33:12)
- Faced cultural and language barriers: “This country requires excellence from you… you better learn English… ESL was kind of in school, and kids are cruel, made it seem like you’re in the special class.” (38:19)
Wrestling Identity:
- Debates the tension between his real name “Kamaru” and high school nickname “Marty,” and how he grew to embrace his African identity:
  “Once I got into a position to where… I’m representing my name… my father, his lineage, and everyone. The name they gave me—like, no, I have to represent that. I’m a grown man now.” (45:22)

Craft, Growth, and the Making of a Champion

Transition to MMA:
- Usman describes “cheating on wrestling” with MMA after the 2012 Olympic trials, initially terrified of fighting, then toughened up by elite training and beatings:
  “Rashad whooped me so bad…crucified me…held me down…staring out the window, trying not to make shit.” (13:53)
- Realization of readiness came a year later: “I remember walking out of that practice going—oh, I’m ready. Something is working here.” (15:18)
Developing Skills:
- Kickboxing was toughest to adopt: “As a wrestler, you’re over your front leg…and now with kickboxing, you have to be balanced… ready to drop at a dime to defend and return some.” (16:14)
On Being Overlooked & Underappreciated:
- Usman acknowledges that early underappreciation in his career gave him a necessary chip on his shoulder:
  “Being underappreciated early on…gave me that chip to do something spectacular enough to have the fans respect you.” (57:26)
On Building Success & Legacy:
- Reflects on the hunger of his early years versus comfort as champion:
  “When you first come in, it’s the fear of the unknown…so I’m blindly going, and I don’t care about anything but this… Now I know that with consistent work, I can get there.” (25:10, 26:35)
- On future generations:
  “The moment I was able to floor my father (with the belt)...words can’t describe that.” (36:47)
  “…Then the next level is when you show it to your kids…and then the third level is when they repay the favor…it’s the circle of life.” (37:23)

The Agony and Wisdom of Defeat: The Leon Edwards KO

The Knockout (Leon Edwards Head Kick):
- Usman describes the memory gap:
  “It’s like lost in time…when your computer shuts down. Boom. And then reboots… No new information.” (61:09)
- Waking up and realizing what happened:
  “She [paramedic] asks, ‘Do you know the date?’…I want to get the right answer, so I’m like, it’s Saturday August something, Salt Lake City, Utah, UFC 270….[then] I wake up. Shut the up… That’s how you wake up.” (63:55, 64:18)
- The pain made worse:
  “Someone had clipped out my daughter…she’s crying hysterically… I saw that, and that’s when it broke me.” (66:04)
Emotional Impact & Comeback:
- On entering the Buckley fight post-defeats:
  “I’m still the same, but the confidence is hurting…when all you’ve ever known is success, and that’s not what it’s been lately…it messes with you.” (66:54)
- On the relief of climbing out of adversity:
  “Adversity is a blessing…to go out there and have that actually happen and show that you are that guy… it was very, very emotional.” (68:51, 70:13)

Mentorship, Brotherhood, and the Impact of Rashad Evans & Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson

Rashad Evans:
- Usman credits Rashad as pivotal:
  “Rashad was instrumental in just getting me to switch over to the sport…one of the first of what we are now.” (75:39, 76:13)
- Evans opened his home to Usman, helping him transition and providing kinship and support:
  “Rashad just had that heart… I moved to Florida, lived with Rashad for two and a half, three years.” (78:40)
Anthony Johnson:
- On losing ‘Rumble’:
  “It affected me… it’s a little different, I almost pre-mourn situations…when we found out he was sick, I nourished that relationship a bit more…He left me a necklace…” (81:32)

Fatherhood and Life After Fighting

On Being Present:
- Fatherhood is central:
  “It means a lot because I got that from my first daughter… I always knew I wanted to be a father… I just see the importance of that.” (84:27)
On Balancing Work & Family:
- The classic tradeoff:
  “If you want to give them everything, they have to understand Daddy’s not going to make every event, you’re not going to be around…it’s that double-edged sword…” (86:45)
Looking to the Future:
- Usman is considering podcasting, acting, fashion, and more:
  “Television, broadcasting, podcasting, acting, fashion…You have options to have built this life.” (87:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the champion’s burden:

“There’s this chip on your shoulder… you’re always looking over your shoulder. Are they coming to get me? So there’s that anxiety you feel each and every time.”
— Kamaru Usman (06:24)
On embracing his real name and identity:

“Once I got into a position to where… I’m representing my name…my father…Everyone…no, I have to represent that. I’m a grown man now.”
— Kamaru Usman (45:22)
On the loss to Leon Edwards and memory blackout:

“It’s like lost in time.…when your computer shuts down. Boom. And then reboots…the computer got no new information.”
— Kamaru Usman (61:09)
On fatherhood and pride:

“The moment I was able to floor my father… Words can’t describe that.”
— Kamaru Usman (36:47)
On adversity:

“Adversity is a blessing. As much as we hate it, as much of an annoyance as it is for us, adversity is a blessing. Having the ability to have things…happen to you, that’s a blessing, because now you get to feel something.”
— Kamaru Usman (68:51)
On his desired legacy:

“I want everyone that had an encounter… did business or did anything with me, I want them to say he did right by me.”
— Kamaru Usman (90:19)

Important Timestamps

Early reflections on post-title life: 05:05 – 10:25
Transition from wrestling to MMA: 10:36 – 15:38
Early struggles, skill development, and sparring stories: 15:38 – 18:45
Wrestling identity and embracing the “Kamaru” name: 41:45 – 46:54
Childhood in Nigeria & immigration: 31:07 – 34:43
Fatherhood and pride in achievement: 35:12 – 38:05
The Leon Edwards knockout (head kick): 61:00 – 66:04
Emotions after victory over Buckley: 66:50 – 71:09
Rashad Evans and Anthony Johnson’s impact: 74:36 – 81:10
Reflections on legacy and "doing right": 90:08 – 91:35

Tone & Style

Cormier and Usman’s conversation was candid, earnest, and occasionally lighthearted, with strong undercurrents of respect, resilience, and gratitude. Usman was unafraid to get personal, especially regarding his struggles with cultural identity, the pain of public defeat, and the emotional reality of fatherhood, loss, and legacy.

For Listeners & Fans

This episode offers a deep, humanizing portrait of Kamaru Usman beyond his dominance in the cage. It's essential listening for fans interested in the emotional and psychological journey of an elite athlete, the cultural dynamics of success for immigrants, and the challenges of transition after fame.

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Daniel Cormier Show - Kamaru Usman on getting KNOCKED OUT by Leon Edwards, UFC title run, beating Buckley