One of the most impressive things about Njokuani’s recent run of form is how well he’s performing after nearly two decades of mixed martial arts competition. The 36-year-old began his professional career in 2007 and has managed to evolve across three generations to find himself just outside the UFC rankings 18 years later.
“It’s not too challenging because as long as I stay in the gym, I get different looks throughout the years,” Njokuani said of adapting to an evolving sport. “That’s just all I’ve been doing. Going against certain guys in the gym, different faces popping up here and there and getting my experience in that sense instead of just staying in my little bubble.
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“Dropping weight classes, that helped a lot. And just staying in the gym, staying focused, staying ready.”
Njokuani now finds himself just days away from a matchup with Jake Matthews, who sits in a similar position not far out from the welterweight Top 15. A 21-fight UFC veteran, Matthews is also riding a streak of his own, securing back-to-back wins over Phil Rowe and Francisco Prado.
