Unlike many fighters, UFC featherweight Sodiq Yousaf will respond to DMs as long as they're respectful.
“As long as you're cool, you're not a troll. If you have time, we'll have a conversation,” Yousaf said. MMA hour.
That openness paid off in a big way recently when Yousaf struck up a conversation online with an animator and told him he was working on a project about future Nigerians.
Yusaf, one of several Octagon fighters of Nigerian descent and a self-described nerd, had his ears ringing. The more the animators explained the project, the more they realized that this was a real opportunity. Then he learned about his animator client, Disney, and began working in earnest.
“I always tell people, especially growing athletes, that they don't realize how much no they can take,” he said in an interview from his kitchen while preparing a postgame meal. Yusaf said in response. “He just needs one 'yes' for it to mean anything.” ”
Yusaf sent a DM to the owner of an animation company, asking for a yes, but it turned out that the owner was a fan of the UFC.
“He was a Nigerian UFC fan, so he checked all the boxes,” Yousaf said. “I've always been a huge nerd, and I've always wanted to be a part of your project, no matter how small the role.''
That led to a voice-over session, in which Yousaf received three lines. The producers liked him so much that they brought him back for more work – six episodes in total.
Another way for Yousaf to accept DMs is to send them a DM. This is his way of fully embracing new opportunities.
“Right now I’m in a Disney show,” he said with a laugh. “My DMs are full of me shooting for a million different things. And yes, I always get a 'no'.” But it doesn't matter how many “no's” you get. Sometimes you just need a “yes”. ”
The animation project “Iwájú” is set in Lagos, Nigeria, and follows best friends Tora and Kore as they “discover the secrets and dangers hidden in their different worlds.” It debuted on Disney+ on February 28th.
“In Yoruba [Yusuff’s native language], Iwájú means “future'','' Yousaf said. “It’s about a future Nigeria and I’m playing a character.” [Sunday Adelekan]”
Martial artists aren't exactly known as natural actors in front of the camera, but Yousaf took the whole experience in stride, just as he did when he competed against Paul Felder on the HBO series “Hux.”
“I make a living fighting people in my underwear,” he said. “Even when I was in acting class, everyone was nervous. I feel like my nerve meter was broken.”
Yousaf recently got another yes related to his day job when he faced Diego Lopez at the UFC 300 banner event in Las Vegas on April 13th. He hopes to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Edson Barboza at UFC Vegas 81 this October.
Of course, Yousaf is training hard to get back on his feet. But in the meantime, he will be monitoring social media. You never know what will pop out.
