Phumi Nkuta is likely one of the high fighters on the earth not at the moment signed to the UFC, and the highly-skilled flyweight needs to not solely compete contained in the octagon, but additionally the WWE ring as properly.
Nkuta’s subsequent check takes place this Friday at LFA 211 when he faces former promotional champ Cody Davis within the co-main occasion in Salamanca, N.Y. “Turbo” is 9-0, and has had titles for the likes of CFFC, and has additionally started a journey within the professional wrestling world. The truth is, Nkuta had his first match in opposition to former WWE famous person and UFC fighter Matt Riddle, and delivered a formidable efficiency.
With Nkuta having aspirations to compete for each the UFC and WWE, the 29-year-old was requested if he had to decide on one or the opposite, which might he go together with?
“I’d look my supervisor within the eye, and I’d inform him, ‘My good friend, they’re each underneath one firm, you bought to let me run up each,’” Nkuta informed MMA Combating. I imply, clearly, I’ve been coaching my complete life for combined martial arts. I’m a UFC head since I used to be a child. I’ve at all times needed to be within the UFC, I’ve been coaching my complete life to be within the UFC. That’s what I’d need first. If I needed to, I’d take that choice first, however on the finish of the day, man, I don’t suppose there’s a single different athlete on the planet who’s doing what I’m doing, you realize what I imply?
“And there’s no disrespect to anyone. It’s not being cocky, it’s not being smug, however title me one other skilled athlete on the earth who’s been educated by Ray Longo, Matt Serra, after which been educated by one of many biggest skilled wrestlers in historical past in Superb Crimson. Title me one other man who’s held a bunch of titles within the sport of combined martial arts and so they mentioned, ‘You already know what, I’m gonna tackle this stud right here from the WWE and I’m gonna look good doing it, too.’ After which I’m gonna get on the microphone and make it look even higher. I haven’t gotten the chance to show what I can do, however thank God, man, I received followers who assist me, and I really suppose I’m a particular athlete. I feel I’m one in all one. …
“TKO is one large firm with WWE and UFC. Why not have one athlete who might be a star in each on the identical time?”
Nkuta hopes his efficiency in opposition to a heralded and harmful opponent can lastly get him that elusive name for a UFC alternative, a brief discover struggle, or perhaps a spot on the upcoming season of Dana White’s Contender Sequence.
The longtime coaching associate of UFC champ Merab Dvalishvili, and former champ Aljamain Sterling has been prepared for that decision for fairly a while, however admits that constructing expertise in direction of that aim can solely assist.
As soon as he will get that decision, nevertheless, Nkuta plans to remain extremely busy, and hopes he can shine within the premier MMA and professional wrestling organizations sooner or later.
“[My goal is] I’m at Uncooked on Monday, after which I’ll be on the PLE on that Saturday after which I’ll take a brief discover struggle and struggle the following week once more for the UFC on the APEX or one thing, it don’t even matter to me, man,” Nkuta mentioned. “I’m simply hungry, I’m coaching exhausting, I’m In Las Vegas now, so I’m within the good ambiance if you wish to be a fighter, so I’m solely getting higher.
“So yeah, rack them up, give me one thing within the WWE, give me one thing within the UFC and I don’t suppose there’s anyone who’s ever held a belt in each on the identical time. Why not me? …
“TKO is type of actually displaying itself to be the true dwelling of like, not simply the UFC, and never simply the WWE, however simply fight sports activities on the whole. They received their palms in jiu-jitsu, they received their palms in MMA, boxing, wrestling. It’d be cool in the event that they did Muay Thai too, man. That’d be fairly dope. Perhaps four-ounce gloved Muay Thai.
“However so far as I’m involved, man, yeah, I wish to be that Bo Jackson, I wish to be that Deion Sanders. I’m making an attempt to attain a landing and [hit] a house run in a single evening, man, you realize what I’m saying?”
