Record: 9-0
Age: 29
Height: 5’4″
Weight: Flyweight
Birthplace: New Brunswick, N.J.
Next fight: Feb. 21 vs. Adrian Garcia (8-3-1) def. Adrian Garcia via unanimous decision at LFA 202 in Niagara Falls, N.Y. (UFC Fight Pass)
The skinny: Phumi Nkuta grew up a pro wrestling fan and he carries that swagger and gift of the gab as he continues to pursue his UFC goal. A college student at Hofstra University, Nkuta stumbled into Longo’s MMA and met Aljamain Sterling. The rest was history. Nkuta has dominated the entirety of his MMA career. Not one opponent has really found significant success against him. He won the CFFC flyweight title in 2021 and considered one of the best North American prospects. So what’s holding him back? Well, Nkuta needs finishes. It’s what the UFC has told him directly. With CFFC and Peak Fighting titles to his name, Nkuta embarks on an LFA journey as he looks to continue to add more wins to his resume.
In his own words: “I’m going to say the same thing Longo says: We can run an experiment right now. Put me in that ring with Alexandre Pantoja as an experiment. Let’s see who walks out with the belt. I’m telling you, you could put me in there with any of those guys. Especially if you give me a camp, I’m walking out victorious. Put me in there against Alexandre Pantoja, I’ll out-grapple him. I’ll out-strike him. I’ll get on the microphone and then out-talk him. For the hell of it, I’ll get in the commentary booth and talk about how I did all of that anyway. I just bring something different to the table. It’s a different level of confidence. It’s a different level of technique. It’s a different level of skill. On top of it, when I get on that mic, especially when I get on that camera, there’s a different level of swagger, a different level of charisma. I’m the best, man – not top 15, not top five. I’m No. 1 with a bullet.”
“… If they have an opening at 125, Mick Maynard, hit my line. … For me, 125, 130, 135, screw it one day maybe I’ll go up to 145 and 155, and be a four-weight class champion. Champ-champ-champ-champ, do you know what I’m saying? We have big goals over here. If I just get one opportunity, all those goals will come true. The whole world will see.”
