Sherdog Prospect Watch: Phumi Nkuta

Phumi Nkuta does not lack confidence. In fact, he brims with it.

The 28-year-old former Cage Fury Fighting Championships flyweight titleholder missed almost two years with a hand injury that required multiple surgeries and resulted in a brief retirement from mixed martial arts. Nkuta returned to the cage in 2023 after a 595-day layoff and proceeded to put two more notches in the win column. It was as if he never left.

“I took time off from the sport, but I didn’t really stop training so much,” Nkuta told the FightWave podcast. “I was still kind of helping some guys out. I was coaching a little bit, but my mind was always in this game. I’ve worked so hard over the years and still do work hard. This is like walking for me. I can take off for another four years and come back and still be moving and grooving.”

Nkuta used the lengthy sabbatical to reassess priorities and rediscover his love for the sport to which he had long ago dedicated himself. It appears to have been time well spent.

“I’m a perfectionist to the fullest,” Nkuta said. “It’s the reason why I think I’m the best in the world. It’s the reason why I train so hard. It’s the reason why I try and have flawless performances. Because I’m that [way], sometimes I’m way too invested in certain things that I do. I needed that time away almost to like find myself outside of MMA. This sport calls me back. It’s in my blood at this point. I think that time away almost kind of made me realize … before, I feel like I was doing it because I can. Now, I’m doing it because I want to and because I can. Now, there’s no pressure. Now, I’m just having fun.”

Results since his return have been glowing. Nkuta first shook off the rust and put away Cleveland McLean—a 28-fight veteran—with a rear-naked choke in the third round of their encounter under the Aries Fight Series banner on Aug. 4. In his most recent outing, he moved up to bantamweight on short notice and improved his perfect professional record to 7-0 with a three-round unanimous decision over Hunter Starner at CFFC 128 on Dec. 15.

“Shout out to him for accepting the fight,” Nkuta said. “A lot of people said no. We had a tough time finding fights, and on a week and a half notice, he said, ‘You know what? I’m going to take on a former champion.’ I’m just working at another level. I’m operating on another level right now.”

Nkuta trains out of the esteemed Serra-Longo Fight Team outfit in New York, where he meets the daily iron-sharpens-iron grind with onetime UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra and longtime striking coach Ray Longo. A host of world-class fighters call the camp home, former UFC bantamweight titleholder Aljamain Sterling and top bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili among them.

“I’ve been saying we’re the best team in the world for a while,” Nkuta said. “There’s something in the water in Long Island. There’s something brewing. We all work hard. We’ve all got big goals, and we’re willing to help each other with these goals. That room … when it gets packed, it’s deep with talent.”

Though his most recent appearance took place at bantamweight, the undefeated 5-foot-4 Nkuta still considers the 125-pound weight class his home.

“I personally think the flyweight division could be the best division in the world,” he said. “If you really know fighting, you can show any flyweight fight, the majority of flyweight fights, to people who have never seen the sport and they’re going to love it. I’m the most entertaining, most charismatic, the best flyweight fighter in the world today.”

Nkuta’s bold proclamation includes the current UFC flyweight champion.

“He’s a great fighter,” Nkuta said. “He can take you down. He’s tough. He throws hands. I’m going in there and I’m beating him tomorrow. If you take me and put me in that Octagon with Alexandre Pantoja, I’m walking out with the belt.”