If you’re a sports fan in Sacramento, there’s a strong possibility you’ve heard of Urijah Faber, a.k.a. “California Kid.”

The Carmichael native became a well-known name in mixed martial arts (MMA) in the early 2000s, eventually fighting in the UFC before retiring in 2019.

But retirement didn’t equal slowing down. He still trains and lives in his hometown. Also, in January 2024, he teamed up with Sac State to offer students a new program, Combat U. The program provides students with the opportunity to “train under world-champion athletes and current and former MMA professionals in wrestling, Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu, and boxing.”

Combat U is what drew Esmira Mammadova, a student currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Finance program, to Sac State. A year ago, she came to the United States for an MMA training camp. 

“There, I met Urijah Faber, who told me about Combat U and the opportunity to study at Sacramento State while training at a high level. I could hardly believe a program like this existed,” Esmira said. 

It was at that camp that Faber explained the vision of the Combat U — a place where combat-sport athletes can build successful futures while pursuing their education. 

“From that moment, I committed myself to earning the opportunity to study at Sacramento State and be part of Combat U,” Esmira said. “The journey took time, effort, and perseverance. When I received my acceptance, it was one of the happiest moments of my life. Now, every day I come to campus, I feel grateful and motivated by the people, the resources, and the supportive environment that pushes me to grow both as a student and as an athlete.”

Esmira was born in the Ukraine. When she was a teenager, her family moved to Azerbaijan. 

“That transition was challenging — starting over in a new environment came with bullying at school and difficult experiences that shaped my resilience early on,” she said, adding she started training in combat sports after her mother brought her to a combat jiu-jitsu gym. “From the beginning, I felt a deep sense of purpose. Since then, I’ve pursued MMA with discipline while also staying committed to education and personal growth.”

As an international student, she earned her economics degree from the Faculty of Economics at Moscow State University. Then, she transitioned to working in her family’s business. But she wasn’t ready to stop learning. 

“After completing my bachelor’s degree, I dedicated myself fully to training and competition, but I never stopped dreaming about continuing my education and finding a way to succeed in both academics and athletics,” Esmira said.

So far, her experience at Sac State has been positive. One of the highlights, she says, is the professionalism and support of her professors. 

“Everyone at CCE has supported me in different ways—my instructors, advisors, and classmates have all contributed to my progress,” Esmira said. 

She also appreciates how many opportunities Sac State offers students outside the classroom. 

“If you stay engaged and use the resources available, you can truly set yourself up for long-term success,” Esmira said. 

She says she would be remiss if she didn’t point to the folks who brought her here. 

“Urijah Faber and President Luke Wood have been especially impactful mentors for me. I feel fortunate to learn from Urijah and to observe his work ethic and discipline firsthand. He inspires me to keep improving and to pursue excellence in both my academic and athletic goals,” she said. “President Luke Wood has also made a strong impression. One of the highlights of my fall semester was meeting him. I admire how he promotes student success, combines athletics with academic excellence, and supports innovative programs like Combat U. He is genuinely engaged with students and clearly invested in helping them thrive.” 

After she completes her master’s program, her goals in life are ambitious, but clear: in MMA, she wants to become a UFC champion. In business, she wants to continue to gain experience in America’s professional environments, building up her skills in entrepreneurship. 

“My long-term goal is to develop a global textile business built on strong ethical values — especially environmental responsibility and sustainable production,” Esmira said, adding that she also dreams of creating a global charity platform to support women and teach self-defense. “Ultimately, I want to build a life where I can grow professionally, create positive impact, and continue competing at a high level.”

Sac State’s Master of Science in Finance is a one-year, cohort-based program that provides students with rigorous training in finance and builds a strong foundation of investment analysis and portfolio management skills, as well as practical knowledge needed in today’s investment industry.