Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes from Nigeria's nine-fighter team are enjoying their experience at the ongoing 13th African Games in Ghana, where they competed in nine weight classes.
The fighters, against all odds, won five gold medals, three silver medals and one bronze medal in the MMA category.
In the men's 120.5kg category, Mouzan Richard won the gold medal by defeating Ivory Coast's Dago Fany. Eze Daniel (83.9kg), Busayo Idowu (52.2kg), Olanike Sodiku (61.2kg) and Joy Obanla (65.8kg) also won gold medals in their respective weight classes.
The silver medalists were Blessing Caro (61.2kg), Bernard Ewe (65.8kg) and Winifred Peter (47.6kg), while the lone bronze medalist was Albert Idowu (70.3kg).
To qualify for the African Games, the athletes took part in the MMA Championship held in February by the Boxing and MMA Hall of Fame, which represents the World Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), the world governing body for boxing and MMA.
Recently, at a reception for the athletes by the management of the Continental Hotel in Lagos, the athletes regretted that the country had paid little attention to the preparations for the tournament, saying nine mixed martial arts fighters fought for more than 10 hours. He said he had a tortuous expedition that followed. , being in Ghana.
However, he added that their determination to survive strong competition from Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Libya and host Ghana led them to success.
Gold medalist Obanla said he was encouraged by Nigeria's “no one-size-fits-all” spirit, adding that he was determined to put the country's name on the mixed martial arts map.
Silver medalist Idowu, who started out as a boxer, said his experience in Accra was “valuable”, adding that his ambition is to become a world champion like Usman Kamal.
General Manager of Continental Group Nigeria, Mr. Karl Hara, praised the team for making Nigeria proud in Ghana, saying the medalists were role models for the country's youth.
Mr. Hara expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, noting that the team's performance reflected the importance of sports and youth support.
Hara said the athletes' success shows there is a bright future and hope for a long and fruitful partnership with the Boxing and MMA Hall of Fame (HOF).
Also speaking at the reception, Boxing Secretary-General and Mixed Martial Arts Hall of Famer Kehinde Soyangwo said the national tournament at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos State, which saw the participation of 60 athletes from different states in the country, was one of the leading national championships. He explained that it was helpful in selecting players. The team representing Nigeria at the African Games.
According to Soyangwo, the mission of the Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Hall of Fame is to make Nigeria one of the best countries in the world in amateur and professional martial arts.
