The African Knockout Championship aims to support the growth of Mixed Martial Arts in Africa by creating a sustainable model for the sport’s growth. It will also provide resources and a platform for young African fighters to showcase their skills on a global stage.
The African Knockout Championship (AKO) has announced the launch of its third season and first “All Africa Championship” in Lagos while holding a media interaction and fighter weigh-in. It marks a significant milestone in AKO’s mission to promote Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in Africa and provide a platform for young fighters to showcase their skills on a global stage.
Sharing his excitement, UFC Legend and African Knockout Founder, Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman said, “For the first time ever, 36 warriors representing 14 African countries will converge in Lagos to determine the inaugural African AKO Champion. Some of the fighters to look out for include Cherif Drame (Benin Republic), Daniel Emeka (Nigeria), Jibrin Inuwa Baba (Nigeria), Mohammed Juma (South Sudan) and others.”
Since its inception, the AKO Championship has hosted MMA events and provided opportunities for African fighters to compete, helping to raise the profile of African MMA and playing a vital role in creating a path for African fighters to succeed in the sport. In 2021, Ndidi “The Rage” Alonu was crowned the winner of Season One of the African Knockout Championship.
The African Knockout team says the “All Africa” championship will bring together the best MMA fighters from across the continent to compete for the title of the first African Champion. The team also adds that the goal is to unlock global partnerships that will create jobs and opportunities for young African athletes by developing a thriving MMA scene in Africa.
“Our goal is to promote MMA in Africa and provide a platform for young fighters to showcase their skills on a global stage. We are committed to empowering African fighters by providing them with the necessary resources to succeed,” said Natasha Belousova, CEO of 54 Limited, the promoters of the AKO Championship.
“With our continental championship format this season, we intend to create a sustainable model for MMA in Africa that will benefit the fighters and contribute to the sport’s growth and development on the continent,” she added.
Mixed Martial Arts is a rapidly growing industry globally, with millions of fans and athletes competing at various levels. The sport has evolved to become a mainstream phenomenon with a significant following across the world. Nigeria, in particular, has emerged as a hotbed for MMA talent in recent years, with fighters like Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya becoming UFC champions and inspiring a new generation of fighters.
“Lagos is buzzing with excitement as the AKO Championship launches its third season and its first-ever All Africa Championship. We are delighted to be providing a platform for young African fighters to showcase their skills and compete on the global stage. Our goal is to significantly impact the culture of Mixed Martial Arts in Nigeria and raise the sport’s profile across the continent,” said Rayan Fayad, COO of 54 Limited, in closing.
The new AKO Championship season kicks off on the 12th of May 2023 and will happen live at a purpose-built championship arena at SOL By BoxMall in Lagos. Tickets are available here, and fans can expect to experience fighters of various weight classes battling it out for a chance at the African Knockout Championship’s continental crown.
The AFRICAN KNOCKOUT (AKO) – Is Africa’s first-of-its-kind Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion owned by the Nigerian-born UFC legend Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman, comprising an amateur MMA reality tv production “The AKO Show”, which currently streams on Netflix; and a series of professional MMA fight nights “Face Off”.
AKO aims to promote the sport of MMA as one of the major sports in Africa by providing a platform for young talents to own a space on the global stage and giving MMA fans a new and unique experience of watching professional MMA fights live.