One notable fighter scheduled to compete at UFC Vegas 106 has revealed he nearly ended his career while struggling to overcome injuries and get back into the octagon.
Following the UFC 315 pay-per-view event in Montreal, Canada, the leading mixed martial arts promotion returns to its base at the Apex in Las Vegas this Saturday.
The upcoming UFC Fight Night event at the smaller venue will be headlined by a ranked welterweight bout featuring Gilbert Burns against Michael Morales, who is undefeated.
Other significant stories will unfold on the undercard, including the comeback of a fighter who has been out of the spotlight.
Sodiq Yusuff Pondered Retirement During 13-Month Injury Absence After UFC 300
UFC Vegas 106 will feature the return of long-time featherweight contender Sodiq Yusuff.
The 31-year-old Nigerian has not competed since suffering a brutal knockout loss to Diego Lopes in the first 90 seconds of their fight at the landmark UFC 300 event.
Speaking with E. Spencer Kyte for UFC.com, Yusuff explained the reasons behind his 13-month period of inactivity, disclosing that a severe back injury led him to 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.
“This has probably been the closest I’ve ever been to hanging it up, just because my body wasn’t keeping up anymore. There was one day I was trying to push through a practice and everything hurt at the time.
“I was in the middle of wrestling practice and I was having a hard time, constantly getting stingers, my back is locking up, and I literally left practice crying; I left in tears. I was like, ‘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 interest surrounding Yusuff’s return is his decision to compete at lightweight (155 pounds) for the first time in his UFC career.
The Nigerian fighter has chosen to move up from the featherweight division to experience healthier fight preparations without a demanding weight cut.
Avoiding the stress of a significant weight cut could be advantageous as Yusuff prepares for a tough test at UFC Vegas 106.
To secure his first win since 2022, ‘Super Sodiq’ must defeat Mairon Santos, a 15-1 prospect and winner of The Ultimate Fighter.
Should Yusuff deliver an impressive performance and get his hand raised, he could establish himself as a potential threat within the lightweight roster moving forward.
