‘Official recognition boost to NMMAF grassroots development effort’

Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation

The Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NMMAF) has said official recognition of the sport by the Ministry of Sports will spur the federation’s efforts to unearth and develop young talents from the grassroots.

NMMAF President, Heney George, told The Guardian, at the weekend, that the federation has increased efforts to develop the sport at the amateur level with the aim of churning out more talented fighters in Mixed Martial Arts.

George added that NMMAF is also collaborating with its African and world body to expose and train Nigerian fighters on the sport.

“MMA was a demonstration sport in last year’s sports festival at Asaba. Now, we are working towards growing the sport at grassroots level and also enlightening parents and their children on the secure nature of the MMA.

“Nigeria has many talents that can make MMA one of the greatest and money making sports in the country. We are making plans to host the African Mixed Martial Arts tournament later this year and other championships as a mark to showcase to the world that Nigeria is a force to reckon with in MMA,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Battle of the Gladiators, which ended at the weekend in Lagos, has thrown up more talented MMA fighters for the country. Put together by Akalaka Spirit of the Warrior Promotion, Ghana’s champion, Richard ‘King Boyka’ Asiedu, silenced home fans at The MUSON Centre with a hard fought split decision win over Nigeria’s Richard Onem ‘The Black Panther’ in the lightweight category of the event.

In one of the co-main fights, fast rising sensation, Tiger Ebere, who is from the Spirit of the Warrior stable, fought to an entertaining stalemate with his Ghanaian opponent, Jerry Gaza Quansa.

However, Opara Goodluck