Khama Worthy was at rapper Common’s concert in Pittsburgh the Sunday before UFC 241. Worthy, who was coming off a knockout win in late July, was enjoying himself. Fighting wasn’t on his mind at all.
But 12 hours later, it would be.
Early Monday morning, he received the most important call of his life. The UFC wanted Worthy to step up on five days’ notice to fight Devonte Smith at UFC 241, one of the biggest pay-per-view cards of the year so far, in Anaheim.
Worthy hesitated at first. He didn’t know if it felt right, he said.