Top mixed martial arts fighters from Nigeria and other parts of Africa provided an electrifying prelude to the sixth regular season and first semi-finals of the African Knockout Championship with a dazzling face-off event at the prestigious Monarch Event Center, Lekki, Lagos on Thursday.
The first semi-finals will see nine fights across light heavyweight, featherweight, middleweight, lightweight, and women’s bantamweight divisions.
The main event and first semi-final of the championship is a showdown that sends shock-waves, as Nigeria’s Jackiel Anyana, “The Smiling Assassin”, locked eyes with Democratic Republic of Congo’s unrelenting titan, Ananias Mulumba, also known as “Metal.”
The two juggernauts of the featherweight category ignited sparks of a rivalry that promises to deliver a battle for the ages.
Adding to the drama, Nigeria’s dynamic duo, Yahaya Yahuza Muhamed and Odogwu Isaac, promised fans a spectacle they can’t afford to miss as they gear up to clash in an all-Nigeria affair.
Another standout fighter bringing his A-game is Chad Hanekom, a participant in the 2023 Dana White Contender Series, hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, as he takes on Cherif Drame from the Benin Republic in the middleweight category.
The women’s bantamweight division promises fireworks as Ivory Coast’s “Fearless Fury,” Amenan Kouassi, goes head-to-head with Nigeria’s Terlumun Doose in a fierce battle of grit and glory.
COO of AKO, Rayan Fayad, shared his exhilaration as the season approaches climax.
“AKO6 is more than a championship—it’s a revolution in African MMA. This is where the best fighters on the continent showcase their unmatched prowess and heart. We are proud to be the launchpad for these phenomenal athletes on the global stage.”
Since its inception in 2020 as a groundbreaking MMA talent reality TV show, AKO has championed African talent, brilliantly fusing the realms of sports and entertainment. The debut season saw 14 amateur fighters live, train, and thrive together for nine transformative weeks.
The inception of the AKO Championship in 2023 marked the birth of the first pan-African professional boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA) championship, heralding a new era for combat sports on the continent.