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Kamaru Usman Reveals How Defeats Became His Greatest Weapon Ahead of New UFC Chapter
Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman says the setbacks he has endured in recent years have equipped him with a powerful new weapon as he prepares for the next phase of his mixed martial arts career.
The Nigerian-born fighter, widely regarded as one of the greatest welterweights in UFC history, believes the lessons learned from defeat have transformed his mindset and strengthened his approach to competition.
“I’ve studied myself the way I study opponents,” Usman said. “And what I’ve learned is that my greatest weakness has become my greatest strength. The same intensity that cost me in some fights is the same intensity that will carry me to where I need to be. It’s about channeling it differently.”
The 38-year-old explained that experience has taught him the importance of controlling his emotions and adapting his strategy based on the circumstances of each fight.
“It’s about understanding the room and reading the opponent and knowing when to turn up the heat and when to be surgical. That’s not just physical evolution. That’s mental mastery. And that’s what this next chapter is built on,” he added.
Usman’s comments come after a challenging period in his career.
In his last four UFC appearances, “The Nigerian Nightmare” has recorded one victory and three defeats.
His run began with a dramatic fifth-round knockout loss to Leon Edwards at UFC 278 in August 2022, a defeat that ended his lengthy reign as UFC welterweight champion.
He subsequently lost a closely contested trilogy bout against Edwards by majority decision at UFC 286 in March 2023.
Later that year, Usman stepped up to the middleweight division on short notice to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, suffering another narrow majority decision defeat.
However, the former champion bounced back impressively on June 14, 2025, when he dominated Joaquin Buckley over five rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory and snap his three-fight losing streak.
Reflecting on his journey, Usman emphasized that both success and failure have played crucial roles in shaping him as a fighter.
“Every fight I’ve had has prepared me for this moment. The wins taught me what it takes to be great. The losses taught me what it takes to stay great. Most fighters don’t get the benefit of both lessons.”
With renewed confidence and a refined mindset, Usman believes the difficult experiences of recent years have positioned him for another successful chapter inside the Octagon.
He is due for a return to the Octagon on July 18, 2026 when he is will be facing South African Dircus du Plesis in the main event of the UFC Oklahoma
The Federal Government has integrated artificial intelligence (AI) into Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) 2026–2030, positioning emerging technologies at the centre of efforts to reduce the country’s cancer burden by 30% by 2030 through improved prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and research.
Iziaq Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, announced the initiative at the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) Best of ASCO Africa 2026 conference in Abuja, where he outlined the government’s strategy to leverage AI and digital technologies to strengthen cancer care nationwide.
The integration of AI into the five-year national strategy, according to the minister, is part of a broader shift towards technology-driven healthcare, with the government seeking to improve disease surveillance, support clinical decision-making, enhance diagnostic capabilities and strengthen data-driven cancer management across the healthcare system.
“The National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030 provides a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, research, workforce development, data systems, artificial intelligence, partnerships and resource mobilisation to improve cancer outcomes nationwide,” the minister says. He says the inclusion of AI reflects the government’s commitment to harnessing emerging technologies to improve evidence-based healthcare delivery and modernise Nigeria’s cancer control ecosystem.
AI to strengthen cancer prevention and treatment
According to Salako, the National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030 provides a comprehensive roadmap for improving every stage of cancer care, from prevention and screening to treatment, survivorship and research.
“The National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030 provides a comprehensive roadmap for strengthening prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, research, workforce development, data systems, artificial intelligence, partnerships and resource mobilisation to improve cancer outcomes nationwide,” the minister says.
He says the inclusion of AI reflects the government’s commitment to harnessing emerging technologies to improve evidence-based healthcare delivery and modernise Nigeria’s cancer control ecosystem.
The renewed implementation of the National Cancer Control Plan also aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises stronger healthcare systems, innovation and strategic partnerships to tackle non-communicable diseases.
To support implementation of the strategy, Salako says the Federal Government has inaugurated a multi-sectoral National Technical Working Group comprising clinicians, researchers, cancer survivors, civil society organisations, development partners and private sector representatives.
The group will adopt an implementation science approach to translate the objectives of the National Cancer Control Plan into measurable outcomes, ensuring that policy interventions deliver tangible improvements in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.
According to him, locally generated scientific data will ensure that emerging innovations, including AI-powered healthcare solutions, are better adapted to the realities of African health systems.
Nigeria among Africa’s hardest-hit countries
Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, Salako says Africa recorded more than 1.18 million new cancer cases and over 721,000 cancer-related deaths in 2024.
According to him, cancer now claims more lives across the continent than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
He adds that Nigeria accounts for about 10.5% of Africa’s cancer burden, making it one of the continent’s three most affected countries alongside Egypt and South Africa.
Call for African-led cancer research
The minister urged African researchers and oncology professionals to generate and validate more research within African populations rather than relying predominantly on international evidence.
According to him, locally generated scientific data will ensure that emerging innovations, including AI-powered healthcare solutions, are better adapted to the realities of African health systems.
Salako also advocated stronger collaboration among African countries in cancer research, innovation, workforce development and access to treatment, describing the approach as a new era of Healthcare Pan-Africanism.
“The time has come for healthcare to assume a more central place in continental cooperation through what I describe as Cancer Care Pan-Africanism,” he says.
“Nigeria remains committed to advancing education, research, advocacy and strategic partnerships that will reduce cancer incidence and mortality, improve the quality of life of patients and strengthen resilient cancer care systems across Africa.”
The minister commended AORTIC, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and other partners for convening the conference, noting that it provides an important platform for adapting global oncology advances to African healthcare systems while promoting evidence-based cancer care across the continent.
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