Sodiq Yusuff Heads into Victory FC 54 Riding a Rocket Up the Pro Ranks
After two years and multiple victories without defeat on the amateur level, lightweight up-and-comer Sodiq Yusuff knew it was finally time to move up to the pro ranks in 2016.
Admittedly, Yusuff’s coaches would have liked him to remain an amateur a bit longer, but after his success, he made it impractical to not turn pro this year.
“It wasn’t really up to me, it was up to my coaches,” Yusuff told MMAWeekly.com. “I’ve been sparring professional guys for a while, and my coaches see how I do against them, and I know how I do against them, so it’s just a matter of me getting experience in the amateurs.
“After the way I was winning on the amateur circuit, there was really no point of me staying, so I kind of forced their hands.”
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Since turning pro, Yusuff has won two straight fights, against Alvin Mercer in April for Shogun Fights and against John Ramirez in July at Victory FC.
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“My first fight (against Mercer) was a nice little TKO,” said Yusuff. “The next one (against Ramirez), even though I wasn’t able to get the finish, I felt like I dominated the guy pretty easily. I’m looking to keep that train going.”
Yusuff (2-0) will look to remain undefeated when he returns at Victory FC 54 on Friday in Omaha, Neb., to take on Devin Turner (3-3) in a main card lightweight bout airing on UFC Fight Pass.
“I don’t think (Turner has been) that active, so I couldn’t find much video on him, so I just have to go out there and do what I do best,” said Yusuff. “I shouldn’t be struggling with somebody with a 3-3 record. If I can’t beat these guys, then I’m not going to be able to go where I want to go.”
After continuing his winning ways this year, Yusuff is looking forward to continuing to take steps forward in his career in 2017.
“After this fight, I’m trying to get a quick of a track as possible to the UFC,” Yusuff said. “I’m not trying to be another guy on the roster.
“After this fight, I have one more fight on my contract, and hopefully they give me someone with a belt, or someone whose name can really push me out there.”
