A prominent fighter featured at the upcoming UFC Vegas 106 event has disclosed that he seriously considered ending his career while recovering from injuries over a 13-month period. This challenging time followed a difficult knockout loss he suffered at UFC 300.
Set to compete as a standout name on the card, Sodiq Yusuff is making his return to the octagon after a significant absence. His last fight was a swift defeat to Diego Lopes at the monumental UFC 300 event, where he was knocked out less than 90 seconds into the bout.
Sodiq Yusuff pondered retirement amid injury issues post-UFC 300
In a conversation with UFC.com`s E. Spencer Kyte, the 31-year-old Nigerian athlete shed light on the reasons behind his extended time away from the sport. Yusuff revealed that a series of painful injuries, particularly involving his back and neck (including spinal and disc herniations), made him contemplate retirement.
“It’s just been a lot of injuries; a lot of spinal and disc injuries,” Yusuff stated. “A few herniations in my back and a few in my neck, so it’s just been dealing with that, being able to mitigate it and trying to get the body to get back in order.” He confessed that this period was the closest he`d come to “hanging it up” because his body felt like it couldn`t keep up anymore.
He described a particularly emotional moment during a wrestling practice where he struggled through pain, experiencing constant nerve stingers and his back locking up. He admitted to leaving that practice in tears, thinking, “Man, I don’t know how much longer I want to do this for.”
Sodiq Yusuff makes major career change for first fight since UFC 300
Adding to the anticipation surrounding his return, Sodiq Yusuff will be competing in the lightweight division for the first time in his UFC tenure at UFC Vegas 106. He has decided to leave the featherweight division behind, aiming for healthier and less stressful fight week preparations at 155 pounds.
Avoiding a strenuous weight cut could prove beneficial as Yusuff prepares for a tough opponent at UFC Vegas 106. To secure his first victory since 2022, `Super Sodiq` must overcome Mairon Santos, an impressive prospect who won The Ultimate Fighter and holds a 15-1 professional record.
Should Yusuff deliver a compelling performance and get his hand raised against Santos, it could signal his arrival as a formidable presence within the lightweight division moving forward.
Jack Thornley