The renowned Lagos Boxing Hall of Fame (LBHF) has undergone a rebranding, expanding its scope to include Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) alongside its traditional boxing tournaments. The inaugural amateur MMA tournament, held under the auspices of the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA), took place alongside the regular monthly boxing event at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
The tournament featured the GAMMA Nigeria Open National MMA Championship, attracting fighters from various states across the country vying for spots on the first national Nigerian MMA team to compete in the 13th African Games scheduled to be held in Ghana the following month.
With MMA set to debut at the Olympics for the first time, Nigeria aims to field representatives in 10 weight divisions, comprising six for males and four for females. The introduction of MMA at LBHF marks a significant milestone, reflecting the evolving sports landscape in Nigeria and globally.
Managed and officiated by the Lagos State Boxing Association and GAMMA Nigeria, the tournament saw a total of 60 fighters competing in both boxing and MMA categories.
Wale Edun, founder of LBHF and Minister of Finance, hailed the rebranded event as a revolution, emphasizing the importance of providing opportunities for young Nigerians to excel in sports and make the nation proud on the world stage.
Valentine Moral, President of GAMMA Nigeria, commended the organisers for their initiative and expressed optimism about the future of MMA in Nigeria, particularly with its inclusion in prestigious events like the African Games. He highlighted Nigeria’s ambition to excel and dominate in MMA, aiming to top the medals table at the upcoming competition in Ghana.
Quest: Cris-Edesiri Odjomah