Phumi Nkuta blown away by treatment for fighters on Rousey vs. Carano card: ‘The money for this fight is already life-changing’

Photo courtesy of A1 Combat

Phumi Nkuta has long been considered one of the top prospects outside of the UFC but despite his best efforts he never got the call to join the promotion.

Of course competing at flyweight gave Nkuta limited options because other major organizations like the PFL don’t even have his division. The UFC has the deepest 125-pound division in the sport but the matchmakers just didn’t seem interested in signing him as a free agent, a short-notice option or even competing on The Contender Series to earn his way to a contract.

But Nkuta got great news just recently when he was asked about replacing Muhammad Mokaev on the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano card when the UFC veteran couldn’t secure a visa in time to travel to the United States for the event. Despite the disadvantages of competing just days after the fight offer was made, Nkuta didn’t blink, especially with the chance to face someone as experienced as former ONE flyweight champion Adriano Moraes.

“You don’t got to ask me twice,” Nkuta told MMA Fighting. “I’ve been itching for a fight for a little bit. I’m on a mission to fight the best competition in the world. This is a guy that beat ‘Mighty Mouse’ [Demetrious Johnson]. I want that name on my record. So of course, I had to say yes.

“I think it is the perfect scenario.  You want to know why? Because if it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be happening. I’m locked in at the gym. I was sparring before this. I was training anyways helping Alex Perez get ready for his camp and he’s fighting May 30. I just probably fought maybe a month ago, a month and a half ago so it wasn’t like I was out of shape or I was just fat eating Twinkies and Cinnabons. I was in the gym, locked in and ready.”

Hardcore fans should already know Nkuta’s body of work where he’s put together a perfect 11-0 record in his career. Everybody else watching the Rousey vs. Carano card on Saturday might be introduced to Nkuta for the first time and he’s anxious to show why somebody should have bet big on his potential long before now.

That said, Nkuta never let it bother him too much that he hadn’t received an offer from the UFC and it all worked out in the end thanks to Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.

“I think if I was younger then I might be frustrated but for me it wasn’t really that frustrating because I love my life,” Nkuta said. “I’m at such a good point in my life. I’ve got good people around me. If I’m ever in a bad situation, I have so many people I can hit up on the phone and talk to. I have so many close friends. I have a close, tight knit circle of people who I know have my back and have my best interests at heart.