Six African countries to feature as Kamaru Usman-inspired MMA contest hold in Lagos

Twenty-two fighters from six African countries will be hustling for glory in the octagon at The FaceOff Fight Night series in Lagos. 

The event is powered by Kamaru Usman, former UFC welterweight champion also known as the Nigerian Nightmare.

The contest, hosted by African Knockout (AKO), Usman’s mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company, is billed for Thursday at the Landmark event centre, Victoria Island.

In a statement, the company said the fight night will include, for “the first time ever”, two women’s MMA fights in Nigeria.

It would also include exciting bouts between the biggest names within the African MMA industry.

“For this third season of the FaceOff Fight Night series, owner of the most finishes in AKO history, Nigeria’s own ‘Machine Gun Shegz’ will make his main event debut when he faces a veteran in the sport, who is currently on a winning streak and fighting out of Benin Republic, ‘Cheriff Drame’,” the statement reads.

“Where knockout artist, ‘The Big Shark Emeka’ gets a chance for redemption when he takes on the AKO season 1 winner, Ndidi Alonu, in what promises to be another classic fight, the currently undefeated Melvin ‘Nicotine’ Ugochukwu will take on AKO debutant Johnson Dennis, and Emmanuel Benard Eweh puts his undefeated record on the line when he welcomes his DR Congo opponent, Joisas Musasa.

“In an interesting addition to this season’s fight night series where an MMA showdown will feature, for the first time ever, 2 women’s MMA fights in Nigeria, with Pamilerin slugging it out with Juliet, while Jane will seek to make history when she takes on her energetic opponent, Reine.”