Former KU center Udoka Azubuike exchanges jerseys with another famous Nigerian athlete
Two of Nigeria’s top athletes — former University of Kansas center Udoka Azubuike of the NBA’s Utah Jazz and UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman — traded jerseys in a ceremony held in conjunction with a UFC weigh-in event Thursday night in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Utah is the site of Saturday’s title fight between Usman and challenger Leon Edwards.
The jersey swap between the 6-10, 265-pound Azubuike and 6-foot-0, 170-pound Usman was captured on Twitter.
Usman, 35, is from Auchi, Nigeria. Azubuike, 22, who is beginning his third year with the Jazz after graduating from KU in 2020, is from Lagos, Nigeria.
“It feels amazing to exchange jerseys with my brother,” Usman said in the UFC Twitter post. “It just goes to show how we’re doing it at every level — whether it’s NFL, NBA, UFC. We’re doing it.”
“Big shout out to my man, my brother,” Usman added, referring to Azubuike, who has dual citizenship in Nigeria and the U.S.
Azubuike at one point held Usman’s championship belt during a photo session between the proud Nigerians.
“Just to see Usman here, fighting in Salt Lake City, it is exciting. The Jazz told me about it and I was so excited to meet up with him,” Azubuike told the Salt Lake Tribune. “ It’s exciting for me to see people from my country doing great things in the world.”
Azubuike told the Tribune’s Eric Walden he became a fight fan during his days at KU, because some of his friends in Lawrence were big UFC fans and introduced Azubuike to the telecasts of fights.
Usman and Edwards successfully made weight Thursday night — both at 170 pounds, ESPN.com reported. Their welterweight title fight is the main event of UFC 278, to be held at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake. At welterweight, Usman is ranked No. 1 by ESPN and Edwards No. 4.
Usman won by unanimous decision in their previous fight in December 2015.
Usman (20-1), according to ESPN.com, is one win away from tying Anderson Silva’s UFC-record win streak of 16. Usman has been UFC welterweight champ since his decision over Tyron Woodley in March 2019. He has five successful welterweight title defenses. Edwards (19-3) has won 10 fights in a row since the loss to Usman.
“It means a lot,” Azubuike told The Tribune of seeing Usman becoming champ. “It’s very hard to go from Nigeria and to come over here and succeed. It requires great effort and a great commitment. It’s a testament of what he’s been able to do, and what he’s put in and all his hard work. It’s exciting to see people making it — coming from Nigeria to the U.S. and making a name for himself in the UFC,” Azubuike added. “I think it’s great, I think it’s awesome. I’m excited for him, I’m excited for the fight.”
Azubuike, by the way, won’t be able to attend the fight. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, he’s headed to Egypt for a Basketball Without Borders event.
“This is going to be my first time going to the camp, helping out,” Azubuike told The Salt Lake Tribune.. “I’m excited, I’m looking forward to it, looking forward to working with the kids. It’s going to be awesome.”
The camp will begin Friday. Azubuike will return to the U.S. on Aug. 31.
