Champ-champ status is about the only thing Kamaru Usman hasn’t accomplished in the UFC, and that may not be the case for long if the former welterweight king has his way! But let’s not pretend this is just about sport; it’s classic corporate media spin trying to craft the narrative of his potential rise. ESPN, with its slick production and established ties, loves a comeback story. They cash in on emotion; it’s what drives subscriptions and ratings. But where’s the real conversational depth?

Usman, dubbed the “Nigerian Nightmare,” could soon be a dual champion, and yet, the media is quick to slap a feel-good story on it without examining the real stakes. CNN might hype up Usman’s achievements, but they conveniently gloss over the politics of power in mixed martial arts and the deeper implications of race and representation. They’re more interested in the sensationalism that draws viewers rather than the raw realities of the fight world. It’s predictable.

Fox Sports, on the other hand, plays the ‘underdog rising’ trope, framing Usman as a hero while promoting the latest controversial fight—likely with little critical analysis regarding the safety of athletes in an increasingly commercialized sport. Ultimately, the messaging skews your perception, painting champions as role models without acknowledging the grind and grit they face, both inside and outside the Octagon.

So before you buy into any fairy tale of Usman’s ascendance, step back and view the narrative with a critical eye. It’s not just about fighting; it’s about who controls the narrative.