UFC featherweight “Super” Sodiq Yusuff stars as Sunday Adelekan in the Disney+ series Iwájú.
UFC fighters are no stranger to television shows — just ask Officer Weidman.
But those combat sports athletes who do land a network gig are usually one-and-done after a single episode. That’s not the case for UFC featherweight Sodiq Yusuff, who locked up a “Super” role on Iwájú, which Disney describes as an “original animated series set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria.”
“In Yoruba [Yusuff’s native language], Iwájú means ‘in the future,’” Yusuff told The MMA Hour. “It’s about a futuristic Nigeria, and I play a character [Sunday Adelekan].”
Here’s a sample of what to expect from Iwájú:
Let the flimmakers tell you all about the beauty of #Iwaju now sreaming on #DisneyZA, have you watched it yet? pic.twitter.com/J576Y2ySXI
— Disney+ (@disneyplusza) April 8, 2024
Yusuff landed the six-episode role after chatting with one of the show’s animators on social media.
“He was a Nigerian UFC fan, so I checked off all the boxes,” Yusuff said. “I was like, I’ve always been a big nerd, and I would love to be a part of your project, no matter how small the role is. Now I’m in a Disney show. My DMs are full of me shooting my shot at a million different things. And yes, I get no’s all the time. But it doesn’t matter how many no’s you get – you just need a yes every once in a while.”
Yusuff, 30, is hoping to get a “yes” from the judges when he fights Diego Lopes at UFC 300 on Sat. night (April 13, 2024) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas — unless the “Super” featherweight can lock up a finish and find his way back into the win column.
“As long as you sign a paycheck at the end, I could care less,” Yusuff said about landing a coveted spot in the historic UFC 300 lineup. “I haven’t fought in front of a crowd since the pandemic. It’s always dope. I’m sure when it’s over I’ll be able to see the bigger picture.”
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