Tenacious mixed martial artist Jimi Manuwa battled his way up to No. 5 in the official UFC light heavyweight rankings in 2018. He is known for his quick and delicate movements in the ring that have taken him to many great heights on the platform. Manuwa, who fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight division, hasn’t taken that long to master the skills needed for his dream sport.
After beginning his training in 2007, he made his in-ring debut in 2008 and proved himself beyond comparison. The UFC fighter has also earned a large fan base, many of whom are intrigued by his life in and outside the ring. From his background to his success story, several questions about the mixed martial artist have been raised among fans who really care about him. Starting with the most frequently asked questions:
Who is Jimi Manuwa?
He is a UFC mixed martial artist, born on February 18, 1980. He began his career in 2007 by training in mixed martial arts. Shortly after starting his training, he started fighting under the Ultimate Challenge MMA platform in the UK and quickly became a champion of the platform. His next stint was on the BAMMA platform where he won over Frenchman Antony Rea via TKO.
After turning down several offers to fight in the UFC, Manuwa then signed under the platform in 2012. He made his UFC debut on Fuel TV 5, where he fought against Kylie Kingsbury and won the victory via TKO just after two rounds. Manuwa embarked on a winning adventure and won his second fight against Cyrille Diabate the following year. He won again in 2013 in a fight against Ryan Jimmo, but lost the fight against Alexandra Gustafsson in 2014 via TKO.
Jimi got injured that year and pulled out of his fight against Mauricio Rua. He returned in 2015 to win the fight against Jan Blachowicz at UFC Fight Night 64. He faced Blachowicz again in a rematch in March 2018, but lost the fight via unanimous decision. Jimi has so far recorded 17 wins out of 21 fights; 15 of the 17 victories were obtained by knockout.
Body measurements – height, weight
Jimi Manuwa stands at a height of 6ft 1in (1.85m), which is quite commensurate with his weight of 93kg. Its span is 79 inches. Undoubtedly, he summons his physique and could use to the fullest whenever he has a fight with a fighter.
Here are 6 things to know about the UFC martial artist
1. Ethnicity
Jimi Manuwa is British by nationality but of Nigerian descent (Yoruba ethnicity). His full name at birth is Babajimi. He was born in California but lived in Nigeria before moving to London aged 10.
2. troubled childhood
Manuwa had a rather peculiar childhood which took a toll on him and his family at the time. His family had emigrated from the United States to Nigeria due to hardship, but when he was 10, Jimi moved to London and enrolled him in a school. At the time, Jimi was a controversial and oddball kid who got into fights and performed several acts of exuberant youth. Wanting to make a quick buck, he robbed, shoplifted, stole people’s belongings and more – acts that constantly got him into trouble with the police. He was imprisoned in 2002 and released in 2003.
3. Charity
Jimi Manuwa didn’t just fight on the ring alone. He sought to create establishments that would not only operate in commerce, but would help other people discover themselves. In 2011, he established Lion’s Pride MMA, the gym. After experiencing the troubles of his teenage years, Jimi also trains young aspiring mixed martial artists in hopes of succeeding in the sport.
4. love life
Although he seems so entangled in his career, Jimi Manuwa makes time for his family and his love life. He is married to Nina Quaranta. With his loving wife, Nina, Manuwa has four children – three daughters; Marni, Isabella and Havana and a son, Jaydon.
5. Net worth
Manuwa has seen its financial situation evolve over the years. For each of his fights, Manuwa goes home with nothing less than $250,000. Jimi’s career earnings have been estimated at $673,000 and that figure will continue to rise. His net worth is also estimated at $500,000.
6. Achievements
Some of Manuwa’s very impressive records include two Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night wins. His first victory was against Alexander Gustafsson and the second against Jan Błachowicz. Also under the platform, he won twice; first against Ovince Saint Preux and second against Corey Anderson. Under the MMA platform, Manuwa won five titles and won a UCMMA Light Heavyweight Championship.