- I went back to Nigeria, back to the motherland.
That probably cost me about $12 K, $15 $150?
[laughter]
[upbeat music]
I was born in Lagos, Nigeria.
I grew up quite well off. You know, my,
my parents were successful business people.
I had a pretty cushy life compared to most kids.
So I had to learn how to stand on my own two feet
a little later in life,
I moved to New Zealand in 2001.
Fighting was never really on my radar
till I was about 17.
That's when I saw Ong Bak, the movie that inspired me
to get in the ring. I was just always a goofy dancer kid.
I was never really violent. I got picked on a lot.
So eventually I realized later on that I should learn
how to defend myself.
When I first told my parents,
I wanted to fight, I knew what the response was going to be,
but eventually when they saw the money rolling in
and I was able to make a living off this,
then they were like, oh, he's all right.
My first international fight,
I think I made just over a grand.
When I first got the call from the UFC,
I was broke just before then. I was just like, ah,
I want to spend my money. I want to enjoy my money.
And yeah, I blew it all.
I think my first fight I made over a hundred grand
because I had a performance-of-the-night bonus.
Don't quote me on that. It's a long time ago.
For the UFC, for the standard guy, I think it's,
you signed for a certain amount of fights
and then you get your show money. That's to show up.
And if you win, you get your win money,
which I'm not a fan of because we all work hard
and we're trying to get paid and provide for our family, so
put it this way. I'm not on the show and win anymore.
I get paid.
The Brunson or the Silver Fight
I made my first million. If I recall, allegedly as well,
sorry, allegedly.
I became champion in 2019,
can you bring my belt real quick?
First of all, there's a shiny piece.
So that's Kelvin, Robert, Romero, Costa, the Tori,
I've defended 1, 2, 3, 4, I've defended the belt four times.
Don't let them tell you less. When you become champion,
they rip up the old contract and get you a new contract
and then get a nice slice of the pie.
There's only one person I trust with my money,
and that's my father.
Who else is going to have your best interest at heart
than the man who brought you into this world and raised you?
You have guys in the basketball like Stephan Curry,
Michael Jordan, their dads involved in their careers.
You know, my dad's involved in my career,
but not in the canvas, not in the cage,
behind the scenes where it really counts.
So that way I can make sure I stay broke and stay woke.
So we've talked about how I made and saved my money.
Let's talk about how I spend my money.
[upbeat music]
First thing was this chain, I believe it was this chain.
I got it on a discounted price,
so I think it was about 13 grand.
I just got this like a week and a bit ago,
and I've got like a Au de Mapage coming next week
that's definitely over 200 K.
Royal Oak skeleton, quite like this though,
they called this the presidential.
I didn't really understand how it works.
I thought you just go into a Rolex store and be like, oh,
do you have one of these?
But apparently there's a waiting list.
It's like eight to 12 months. I was like, oh, shit.
I've probably spent over $500,000 on jewelry.
But for my first million,
I bought my first big chain for 13 K.
First chain 13 K.
[upbeat music]
I probably went on a shopping spree, I'm sure.
Bought some new shoes, threads, all of that.
So I would have spent probably three to 5,000.
Clothing shopping spree, 5 K.
I am my father's son, so I like a good bargain.
I wouldn't have gone to any high end places at the time.
Like no Louis, no Gucci, living within my means.
- [Cameraman] Who would you say are the top best dressed
UFC fighters right now?
- My top three best dress UFC fighters would be myself.
I like a good suit. So I say Connor. Usman, 100%.
I like his threads at the press conferences.
He's always dripped up. So yeah,
I'd say top three will be us three right there.
[upbeat music]
I did my back tat as a dragon,
but it's not just your regular dragon.
It's like a crocodile. It's in Japanese style.
I call it Kunta Kinte.
I don't know why yet,
but my tattoos always revealed the significance to me
later on in life.
I just know he gets angry sometimes
that makes me have to calm it down.
I've got a friend who does my tattoos,
so he does it at a discounted rate,
but not discounted quality.
Probably spent on that tattoo about 4,000.
Back piece tattoo, four to five K.
[upbeat music]
I already had a car,
but I felt like I needed something else,
like some hot wheels. Like we used to play with his kids.
It was meant to be a Lamborghini,
but unfortunately I couldn't sit up right in the
Lamborghini. I had to drive her like this.
So I opted for McLaren instead.
The car itself looks like a spitting image of
Kurama the Demon Fox from the series Naruto.
So it was meant to be, that was my tilt beast.
I named the Kurama as well.
And that sent me back about half a million.
So I'd say brand new McLaren, 500 K.
[upbeat music]
I went back to Nigeria,
back to the motherland to connect
with my people or connect with the soil.
And on the way back I stopped over in Dubai.
That probably costs me about 12 K.
5k?
15?
150?
[laughter]
Okay. I guess so, $150 K.
Nigeria is what you make of it.
A beautiful but dangerous place, depending on who you know,
unfortunately the people in power, sometimes
wrong the people, but at the core, our people are peaceful
people, happy people and very welcoming.
So we need to bring power back to the people
by distributing the wealth.
In Dubai, I hung out with my man's Mo,
shout out to Muhammad and the other Mohammad.
So that was a highlight of my trip,
going to his palace and just exploring the desert
as well on camelback. That was beautiful.
I haven't had much holiday since I've been working all the
time, but it was nice to just kind of to let my hair down.
Vacation for friends and family, $150 K.
[upbeat music]
I'm looking after my close ones, friends and family,
I probably spent like $40 K.
And this is for my first million.
When I'm talking about I'm looking after my closest,
my friends and family, just little gifts here and there.
[upbeat music]
I built myself a home cinema.
It's a projector that comes out of the roof through a lift,
a screen that comes out of the roof as well through a lift,
curtains that close to darken the room,
surround sound speakers all over the living room.
So it's quite hidden. So if you go in there,
you don't really notice it,
but then you press a button to press another button
and another button, and it's just like, boom-pshh,
and transforms into this cozy little intimate cinema.
Home cinema cost me about $20 K.
[upbeat music]
I bought my first home.
That cost me about 800,000. From then, I've just bought,
I've just been buying houses and land since.
I went a bit past a million,
so you guys can add the rest right here in post-production
Do it in post. House, 800 K.
I think there's like four or five bedrooms?
I've upgraded it.
It's definitely gone up in value.
I was quite proud to be able to have my first house
and I'm glad I did so because I had somewhere
I can call a home.
Now I have these rif-rafs living there
who don't appreciate it.
I do a lot for charity, but I don't normally broadcast it
cause I feel like that's kind of disingenuous when you do.
You're doing things for likes or for press
not really doing it from the heart for love.
My sister, who's a nurse, was telling me about the hospital
needing beds. I donated like $20,000 just to help them out.
And they, they got a few new beds, more than a few new beds,
but also I do little things like paying for the gas of the
person that's on number seven.
And then they don't know about it till they get to the
counter, and then by the time they know I'm gone.
And if I do something for someone, I just tell them,
Hey, pass it on.
Just pass it on to the next person.
I never really regret how I spend money.
Cause I've realized this is all just it's fugazi.
It's garbage. I love it.
But it's garbage at the end of the day.
What I really value is how you spend time.
Cause that's something I never get back.
The time is really what it's about.
A young kid comes up to me and asks for advice.
What advice would I give him?
Be like me and spend your money wisely.
Pick who you surround yourself with.
Make sure you're a valued member of the team.
Thanks everyone for listening to me brag about how I spent
my first million. And I'll see you guys in Octagon soon.
Peace.