UFC: City Kickboxing welterweight Blood Diamond set to become first Zimbabwean-born UFC fighter

Blood Diamond is a two-time King in the Ring champion. Photo / Photosport

With his UFC debut looming, Blood Diamond is set to etch his name into the history books of the world's largest UFC promotion.

When he makes the walk to the octagon for the first time, the wild welterweight contender from Auckland's City Kickboxing gym will become the first Zimbabwean-born athlete to compete for the promotion.

"That is something cool, you know? Being first in something is just, wow. For me, it's going to be 'I've accomplished something other people have not managed to do'," he said.

"There are quite a few Africans in the UFC, but to be the first Zimbabwean, it's such a cool thing. Now, the Zimbabwean fans will have someone to support.

"I hope I can inspire someone. If I can inspire one person; they hear my story and decide to chase their dream, I'm happy with that. All I need is just one person."

The name Blood Diamond has become well known in the local arena. While not his given name, it was a nickname he was given at the gym that stuck, and is now what he chooses to go by in his professional life.

With a unique style to match his unique name, Diamond has won plenty of fans over an extensive kickboxing career which includes two King in the Ring title, a Light Heavyweight WKBF world title, a stint with leading kickboxing promotion Glory and a career in China.

Joining the UFC is the next step on his journey and, although he is only 3-0 as a professional mixed martial artist, with close to, if not more than, 100 bouts in his combat sports career under his belt, Diamond said he was ready for the next step in the MMA arena.

"I fight, I want more. I win, I want more and to win better than I did last time," he said.

"Just that hunger of wanting more, that's what got me to where I am, and I still have that same hunger."

While a highly trained striker, Diamond's style is anything but orthodox, as he sets his limbs fly from all sorts of angles and has been known to attempt a 'rolling thunder' kick or two in his career.

It's a style that will no doubt win him fans the world over once he steps under the bright lights of the UFC, with his debut expected to come early in 2022.

The Herald understands he will fight on the same card as City Kickboxing teammate Israel Adesanya's next UFC middleweight title defence, which the UFC are hoping to book for their UFC 271 pay-per-view card in February. Diamond is expected to meet American Orion Cosce (7-1; 0-1 UFC) in his promotional debut. Fellow City Kickboxing athlete Carlos Ulberg is also expected to make his return to the octagon on the same card.

"That's one of the best feelings," Diamond said of the prospect of sharing a card with his teammates.

"When you all train together, then you're all on the same show, that hypes me up."