Usman emerges to be the first African to win Ultimate Fighting Championship

Kamaru Usman has become the first African fighter to win a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title.

He won the mixed-martial arts (MMA) bout against American Tyron Woodley.

The fighter, known as the “Nigerian Nightmare”, dominated the Las Vegas contest for the welterweight title.

The UFC is the biggest competition in MMA, where competitors combine boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, wrestling and other disciplines while fighting in an octagonal cage.

Usman, 31, produced the performance of his career to dominate long-reigning welterweight champion Woodley.

He extended his winning streak to 14 and maintained his unbeaten record in the UFC.

In his post-match press conference he revealed that he had fractured his foot before the game and had been walking around in a supportive boot all week.

Usman was born in Nigeria but left Benin City for Arlington in Texas as a young child when his family migrated to the US.

Twenty-three years later, he is proud of his nickname, the Nigerian Nightmare, he told BBC.