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Not like quite a lot of fighters, UFC featherweight Sodiq Yusuff solutions his DMs – offered they keep respectful.
“So long as it’s cool – you’re not, like, a troll – I’ll maintain a dialog if I’ve the time,” Yusuff mentioned on The MMA Hour.
That openness paid off in a giant means not too long ago when Yusuff struck up an internet dialog with an animator that mentioned they have been engaged on a venture a couple of futuristic Nigerian.
Certainly one of a number of octagon combatants with Nigerian blood, and a self-described “nerd,” Yusuff’s ears perked up. The extra the animator described the venture, the extra he realized it was an actual alternative. Then he realized of the animator’s consumer – Disney – and went into excessive gear.
“I inform individuals on a regular basis, particularly athletes rising up, individuals don’t understand what number of no’s you get,” mentioned Yusuff, who did the interview from his kitchen whereas making ready a post-fight meal. “You solely want one good sure for it to imply one thing.”
Yusuff pursued his sure with a DM of his personal to the proprietor of the animation firm, who, because it turned out, was a UFC fan.
“He was a Nigerian UFC fan, so I checked off all of the packing containers,” Yusuff mentioned. “I used to be like, I’ve all the time been a giant nerd, and I’d like to be part of your venture, irrespective of how small the function is.”
That led to a voiceover session the place Yusuff obtained three strains. Producers favored him a lot they known as him again for extra work – six episodes in complete.
The opposite a part of staying open to DMs for Yusuff is sending them – it’s his means of hustling to new alternatives.
“Now I’m in a Disney present,” he mentioned with fun. “My DMs are stuffed with me taking pictures my shot at 1,000,000 various things. And sure, I get no’s on a regular basis. But it surely doesn’t matter what number of no’s you get – you simply want a sure each from time to time.”
The animation venture, Iwájú, is ready in Lagos, Nigeria, and follows greatest buddies Tola and Kole ”as they uncover the secrets and techniques and risks hidden of their totally different worlds.” It debuted on Disney+ on Feb. 28.
“In Yoruba [Yusuff’s native language], Iwájú means ‘sooner or later,’” Yusuff mentioned. “It’s a couple of futuristic Nigeria, and I play a personality [Sunday Adelekan].”
Fighters aren’t precisely generally known as pure thespians on digicam, however Yusuff took the entire expertise in stride, identical to he did when he play-fought Paul Felder on the HBO sequence “Hacks.”
“I struggle individuals in my underwear for a residing,” he mentioned. “Even once I was in performing lessons, individuals can be getting nervous. I really feel like I’ve damaged my nervous-meter.”
Yusuff not too long ago obtained one other sure, one associated to his main profession, when he obtained a struggle with Diego Lopes on the banner UFC 300 occasion on April 13 in Las Vegas. He hopes to rebound from a disappointing loss to Edson Barboza at UFC Vegas 81 this previous October.
In fact, Yusuff is coaching arduous to bounce again. However within the meantime, he’ll be monitoring his social media. You by no means know what may pop up.
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