The finals of MMA in the African games is set to take place tonight in Accra, Ghana, with a host of nations represented following an extremely successful three day tournament.
The event marks the inaugural time MMA has been featured in the continental Olympic event programme, in what is a significant step forward towards the vision of the sport eventually being included in the Olympic games.
The Amateur MMA rules competition has served as one of six other demonstration sports, among 30 disciplines- with 8 of which serving as qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympic games.
Under the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), MMA has thrived throughout the games and the athletes competing in tonight’s finals will no doubt continue to look to shine a positive light on the sport.
The MMA portion of the 2023 African Games has ran from 10-12 March. There have been a host of African Nations taking part throughout the tournament including the likes of Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Libya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Sudan, Togo and Uganda.
GAMMA’s vision is to see mixed martial arts formally recognised as a sport internationally by the Olympic movement and to one day enter The Olympic Games. Acceptance into the African Games provides a milestone for the sport as it advances MMA’s quest for recognition.
As for Africa, the achievement is an accolade to Africa’s MMA’s athletes as the sport continues to grow across the continent.
GAMMA President Alex Engelhardt said:
“We stand at a great moment for MMA as it is welcomed into the Olympic programme at the African Games in a first for the sport. Not only is this a tribute to the development of MMA in Africa and the efforts of our members, but a fantastic platform for African MMA athletes and one which will no doubt spur further growth. Of GAMMA’s twenty nations, eleven countries are fielding a team this time and putting a stake in the ground. We are proud that MMA is taking its place in the 2023 edition of the African Games and look forward to many more to come, in which MMA’s footprint is only set to grow.”
MMA IN THE AFRICA GAMES: FINALS SCHEDULE
1 - 47,6 Kg | - 105 Lbs Female?
DALIA ABODEFF (EGY) PETER WINIFRED AGARA (NGR)
2 - 56,7 Kg | - 125 Lbs Male?
SOOKHOO BHIRSING (MRI) V. KOTOKA FELIX (GHA)
3 - 61,2 Kg | - 135 Lbs Male?
AWASSIOU WELIKE?(TOG) V. GABRIEL KARO (NGR)
4 - 52,2 Kg | - 115 Lbs Female
BOAKYE ELIZABETH (GHA) V. IDOWU BUSAYO KHADIJAT?(NGR)
5 - 65,8 Kg | - 145 Lbs Male?
SYLVAIN KOKOU (TOG) V.SONG HOLONOU (BEN)
6 - 70,3 Kg | - 155 Lbs Male?
SEWANOU JACQUES JOUTON (BEN) V. AKA MIEZAN PRINCE MENSAN (CIV)
7 - 61,2 KG | - 135 LBS Female??
RASSOOL BIBI OUMEE HANEE MEHERIN (MRI) V. SODIQ OLANIKE RASHEEDA (NGR)
8 - 77,1 Kg | - 170 Lbs Male
RAMZAN ABDUL AZIIM (MRI) V. MOHAMED ELSAYED (EGY)
9 - 83,9 Kg | - 185 Lbs Male??
EZE DANIEL EMEKE (NGR) V. HOUSSOU MICHAEL MAHUGNON (BEN)
10 - 65,8 Kg | - 145 Lbs Female?
ABUBAKARI WINNIE (GHA) V. OBANLA JOY EBANDA (NGR)
11 - 93,0 Kg | - 205 Lbs Male?
IDOO BHOJUL MOHAMMAD V. AJMAL MRI AZIBA MARTINS (NGR)
12 -120,2 Kg | - 265 Lbs Male?
FANNY DAGO (CIV) V. MUZAN RICHARD (NGR)
