Jimi Manuwa: Being In The Background Keeps Me Focused On Shocking The World

Jimi Manuwa2

Currently ranked at No. 11 in the UFC light heavyweight top 15, undefeated British prospect Jimi Manuwa has the opportunity of a lifetime against recent title challenger Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 37, airing live this Saturday on UFC Fight Pass from Manuwa’s backyard at the O2 Arena in London.

Hometown favorite “Poster Boy” was last seen defeating Ryan Jimmo in a strange bout back at UFC Fight Night 30 last October. But now it’s time to prove whether or not he can rise to the challenge against the top rung of the UFC 205-pound landscape, and the promotion wasted little time in throwing Manuwa to the wolves.

With many still believing that Gustafsson is the rightful owner of the UFC light heavyweight throne, Manuwa will be met with his stiffest test yet. That puts him in a sort of win-win proposition this weekend, as most expect “The Mauler” to run through Manuwa. However, it would rate as one of the sport’s biggest-ever upsets if he were to knock off Gustafsson in Great Britain.

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And that’s a role Manuwa has grown to love. He recently told MMA Weekly that he enjoys flying under the radar, especially heading into a big fight like this:

“I kind of like that, being in the background and not being talked about too much because when I do shock the world, it’s going to be a big wave of ‘Oh my God. Things will play into my favor. Imagine that I beat Gustafsson, and imagine that Teixeira beats Jon Jones. Everyone’s theory will be out the window. It keeps me focused on shocking the world.”

Manuwa is no doubt a behind-the-scenes force at 205 pounds right now, but if he can upset Gustafsson on Saturday, that will disappear very quickly. Even if he can’t, Manuwa is going to gain a ton of name recognition just for showing up to the O2 Arena.

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The heavy-handed “Poster Boy” has never gone to the judges’ scorecards, stopping each and every opponent on his spotless record. He has a finishing rate that is rivaled by few fighters outside of Carlos Condit, and Gustafsson would be by far his biggest trophy.

If Manuwa wins and Teixeira somehow defeats Jones at UFC 172 this April, the light heavyweight division is going to be absolutely turned on its head. How does Manuwa propose to accomplish his part in that unlikely scenario? Not surprisingly, he plans on using his thunderous knockout power:

“I don’t think anyone hits as hard as I do in the light heavyweight division. And I think I’m going to show that on March 8.”

While that may be true, “The Mauler” has never been knocked out. Will Manuwa be the one to change that this Saturday?