ANZA MMA said all eight professional fights ended in the first round at its third Pro Nights event at Village Market in Nairobi on 19 Sep.

Kenyan bantamweight George “The Maverick” Itumo defeated Angola’s Jorge Correia by armbar submission at the event’s first staging on the venue’s rooftop.

“Tonight is another important step for ANZA MMA and for the growth of professional MMA in Africa,” ANZA MMA founder Peng Chen said.

The event matters to Kenya’s sports and entertainment economy through its combination of live ticketing, sponsorship and digital distribution.

ANZA MMA published the results and its plans for championship belts in a press release dated 21 Sep 2026.

The promotion said athletes represented six African countries: Kenya, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Sudan.

ANZA MMA said the bouts were livestreamed on YouTube for global audiences.

Digital distribution gives the promotion a way to reach viewers beyond the venue.

Organisers said Angola’s Demarte Pena “The Wolf” attended as a special guest and served as a referee.

Pena is a former EFC and ARES world champion whom ANZA MMA said was an influential figure in African MMA.

ANZA MMA said the card included multiple technical knockout (TKO) stoppages and submissions.

Tanzania’s Rashid Mlegelo defeated Uganda’s Kennedy Serunyange by TKO in a featherweight bout.

Kenya’s Brian Munyi stopped Uganda’s Cyplian Katumba by TKO in another featherweight contest.

Kenya’s Kevin Odongo beat Uganda’s Kasozi Umaru by TKO in the heavyweight division.

South Sudan’s Alhassan Mosala defeated Uganda’s Michael Olara by TKO in a middleweight bout.

Madagascar’s Tsinjo Rakotomaria defeated Uganda’s Lawrence Mukiibi by TKO at lightweight.

Angola’s Daniela Mandanji submitted Uganda’s Rebecca Amongi by rear-naked choke in the women’s flyweight division.

ANZA MMA said this was Mandanji’s professional debut and that she won gold at the 2025 IMMAF Amateur World Championships.

Tanzania’s Chris Tibenda submitted Uganda’s Farouk Ogwal by rear-naked choke in a flyweight bout.

The promotion named Rakotomaria “Fight of the Night” and Odongo “KO of the Night” in its performance recognitions.

Itumo received “Submission of the Night” for his first-round armbar victory in the closing bout.

Chen said the promotion will introduce official branded championship belts at its next planned Pro Fight Nights event in December.

“We are building a platform where fighters can compete, develop and be seen,” Chen said.

Chen said “the introduction of our branded belts is another step in building the identity and legacy of the Pro Fight Nights”.

“We look forward to bringing them to the cage at our next event in December,” Chen said.

The event’s commercial model points towards revenue opportunities from professionally staged live events backed by sponsorships and content rights.

ANZA MMA said CHEZA CHEZA presented the event.

Its supporters included HustleSasa, Cashless, Trademark and Village Market.

Other supporters included VMX, Anyiko Public Relations, Acai Oasis, YouC1000 and Otto Rentals.

ANZA MMA said it is Kenya’s first licensed MMA promotion under the Kenya Oriental Combat Sports Federation.

The promotion said it hosted Kenya’s first professionally sanctioned MMA event in 2025.

It said it has since produced multiple amateur events and three professional events featuring fighters from several African countries.

The promotion did not disclose dates, ticketing details or the venue for the December card in the press release.

ANZA MMA will stage its third professional mixed martial arts event at Village Market in Nairobi on 19 Sep 2026 with fighters from six African countries.

The promotion announced ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 in a press release dated 31 Aug 2026.

The Saturday event will feature eight bouts across the main card and preliminaries with Kenyan bantamweight George Itumo facing Angolan Jorge Correia.

“ANZA MMA Pro Nights is back,” the organisation said.

The line-up includes fighters from Kenya, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Sudan.

The event matters to Kenya’s sports business as promoters test demand for ticketed entertainment and seek audiences for professional combat sports.

Village Market has increasingly hosted such events and benefits from established foot traffic and proximity to Nairobi’s higher-spending consumer segments.

ANZA MMA said Itumo’s only professional defeat to date came against another Angolan fighter.

The promotion presented the match against Correia as an opportunity for Itumo to respond to that record against Angolan opposition.

Angolan amateur world champion Daniela Mandanji will make her professional debut against Uganda’s Rebecca Amongi in a preliminary flyweight bout.

ANZA MMA said the main card will feature four bouts including Itumo’s bantamweight contest.

Tanzania’s Rashid Mlegelo will face Uganda’s Kennedy Serunyange at featherweight.

Kenya’s Brian Munyi will meet Uganda’s Cyplian Katumba in another featherweight bout.

Kenyan heavyweight Kevin Odongo will face Uganda’s Kasozi Umaru.

The preliminary card also includes South Sudan’s Alhassan Mosala against Uganda’s Michael Olara at middleweight.

Uganda’s Lawrence Mukiibi will meet Madagascar’s Tsinjo Rakotomaria at lightweight.

Tanzania’s Chris Tibenda will face Uganda’s Farouk Ogwal at flyweight alongside the Mandanji and Amongi contest.

The promotion said Munyi and Odongo previously competed at ANZA Pro 002 and linked their performances to interest in the Nairobi event.

Munyi “knocked his opponent out after a breathtaking throw,” the statement said.

ANZA MMA said Odongo stopped a heavyweight opponent late in the third round.

International fight cards can influence sponsorship demand and venue partnerships as Kenyan promoters compete for corporate marketing budgets.

Combat sports face competition from football, rugby and athletics for that spending.

Cross-border participation can also support media rights discussions and expand audiences beyond Kenya through streaming and social platforms.

ANZA MMA did not disclose expected attendance or provide ticket pricing and broadcast arrangements.

The promotion said it is “Kenya’s first licensed MMA promotion under the Kenya Oriental Combat Sports Federation”.

Its events have drawn “more than 1,000 fans,” ANZA MMA said.

The release did not provide independent verification of that figure or an event-by-event breakdown.

ANZA MMA said Cheza Cheza presents Pro Nights 3 but did not provide financial details on event investment or projected revenue.

The event forms part of the promotion’s efforts to formalise professional MMA operations in Kenya ahead of future editions.

Pro Nights 3 follows ANZA Pro 002 and is scheduled for Saturday 19 Sep 2026 at Village Market in Nairobi.

ANZA MMA held its second professional mixed martial arts event, ANZA MMA Pro Night 002, on Saturday, 6 June 2026 at Broadwalk Mall in Nairobi, drawing more than 1,000 fans to a sold-out venue, according to the promotion. ANZA MMA said the nine-bout card ended with nine consecutive finishes, an outcome that meant every fight ended before the final bell.

The event featured fighters from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, reflecting a growing circuit of regional competition in combat sports. ANZA MMA also said the audience included athlete teams, community gyms, media and several public figures, which it framed as a signal of MMA’s increasing mainstream profile in Kenya.

According to the results released by ANZA MMA, Uganda’s Justin Okot defeated Kenya’s Celeste Leslie Masiga in the opening bout, followed by another Ugandan win as Lawrence Mukiibi beat South Sudan’s Abednego Thon via submission. Zambia’s Batista Mende then defeated Angtenda of DR Congo, continuing a run of stoppages.

In all-Kenyan action, Alhassan Mosala defeated Julius Osodo via a second-round TKO. Kenya’s Brian Munyi beat Uganda’s Henry Kirangwa via TKO, while Kevin Odongo defeated DR Congo’s Romain Kasase via a third-round TKO. Tanzania’s Rashid Mlegelo beat Zambia’s Jai Chilufya via rear-naked choke submission. Kenya’s George Itumo defeated DR Congo’s Kentos Boton via TKO, and Kenyan featherweight Ouhsummer Ali Abad beat South Sudan’s Peter Busak via armbar submission in the main event.

ANZA MMA also announced performance awards from the card. “KO of the Night” went to Brian Munyi, “Submission of the Night” to Rashid Mlegelo, and “Fight of the Night” to Kevin Odongo versus Romain Kasase, according to the press release.

The promotion said the event attracted local artists and creators including Bien, Ssaru, Breeder LW, Shappaman, Kagwe Mungai, Kenchez, Dr Reign and filmmaker Eugene Mbugua. ANZA MMA said Bien entered the cage after Odongo’s win to congratulate the fighter.

The latest card comes as Kenya’s combat sports ecosystem continues to broaden beyond boxing and traditional martial arts into professionally promoted MMA events, which rely on ticketing, venue partnerships and the growth of local gyms and athlete pipelines. ANZA MMA said it is licensed under the Kenya Oriental Combat Sports Federation and described its Pro Night events as professionally sanctioned.

For Kenyan businesses, the emergence of recurring fight nights can create additional opportunities in event production, security, merchandising, sponsorship activation, sports media and hospitality. The regional make-up of the Pro Night 002 card may also support sports tourism into Nairobi if the calendar becomes more regular and if athlete teams and fans travel for future events.

Looking ahead, ANZA MMA said its 2026 season has included two amateur fight nights before the recently concluded professional event. The promotion did not disclose dates or venues for its next professional card in the statement, but positioned the amateur and professional series as part of a development pathway for regional fighters.

ANZA MMA will hold its second professional mixed martial arts event, ANZA MMA Pro Nights 002, on Saturday, June 6 at Broadwalk Mall on Ojijo Road in Nairobi, with bouts set to start from 5pm, according to a media statement dated May 19, 2026.

The promotion said the event will feature fighters from across East Africa, listing Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan among the participating countries. The fight night follows ANZA MMA’s inaugural professional event held in December 2025.

The main event is set to pit Kenyan featherweight Ouhsummer Ali Abad, nicknamed “Ninja Turtle,” against South Sudan’s Peter Bushak. ANZA MMA said Ali Abad delivered a “first-round technical finish” during the December 2025 event and will face Bushak in a featherweight bout.

On the main card, Kenya’s George Itumo, known as “The Maverick,” is scheduled to face DR Congo’s Ken Boton in a bantamweight contest. ANZA MMA said Itumo won his December bout in the first round, while Boton comes off a win over Uganda’s Josiah Lumunya at Impact Championship.

Kenyan heavyweight Kevin Odongo is also listed to return, against Congolese heavyweight Romain Kasase. The statement also referenced rapper Octopizzo entering the cage with Odongo after his December fight.

The main card is completed by a featherweight bout between Tanzania’s Rashid Mlegelo of Dar MMA and a Zambian fighter identified as Chilufya.

On the preliminary card, ANZA MMA listed a middleweight bout between Alhassan Mosala of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy and William Odino, both from Kenya. Other preliminaries named in the statement include Zambia’s Mende against DR Congo’s Angtenda; Kenya’s Brian Munyi of Chanuka Self Defense against Uganda’s Farouk Ogwal; South Sudan’s Thon against Uganda’s Mukiibi; and Kenya’s Leslie Masiga against Uganda’s Justin Okot.

While the event is primarily a sports property, recurring fight nights have become part of Nairobi’s wider entertainment economy, generating demand for venue space, ticketing, security services, brand partnerships and adjacent hospitality spending, particularly for malls and mixed-use developments that host large crowds during weekend hours. Broadwalk Mall, located along Ojijo Road, is among the city’s established retail and leisure venues.

ANZA MMA also used the statement to position the event as a continuation of its December 2025 debut, saying “the first ANZA MMA pro event… completely [sold] out the venue,” and that “demand far exceeded capacity, with many spectators… turned away at the doors due to the packed arena.” The organisation did not disclose ticket prices, attendance figures, or revenue from the previous event.

The promoter also cited the entertainment crossover around the inaugural event, stating that attendees included public figures such as Nviiri the Storyteller, Boutross, Chiki Kuruka and Savara, as well as Kenyan MMA fighter Felista Mugo.

Tickets for the June 6 event are being sold via HustleSasa, according to the statement. ANZA MMA said further event materials, including posters and images from the first event, are available for download through links provided to media.

Next, attention will turn to whether the second event matches the December 2025 turnout and whether ANZA MMA can maintain a regular calendar of professional fight nights in Nairobi, a key factor in building sustainable athlete pathways and attracting regional participation.

ANZA MMA held its Amateur Fight Night 008 on April 26, 2026 at The Alchemist in Westlands, Nairobi, drawing amateur mixed martial arts fighters from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Italy in a nine-fight card, according to a statement issued by the organiser on April 27, 2026.

The event featured athletes representing gyms and teams including Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Mombasa Sharks, GAMMA Rwanda, Kigali BJJ, Guardian Uganda, Hardcore Gym, Tristar Gym Nairobi, Shadow Strikers and the Kenya Wrestling Team, ANZA MMA said.

ANZA MMA also said the audience included representatives from Kenya’s Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports—named as Joel Atuti, Deputy Director of Sports, and Mr. Muriithi—as well as PFL Africa’s Daniel Kijo, Director of Marketing and Operations. The statement added that Kenyan fighter Felista Mugo attended the event, describing her as having recently won in Pretoria under the Professional Fighters League (PFL) banner.

In results highlighted by the organiser, Kenya’s Samuel Laurian of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy won the featherweight main event by submission against Rwanda’s Jonathan Ntakirutimana of GAMMA Rwanda. In the welterweight co-main event, Italy’s Lorenzo Cardanelli, representing Kigali BJJ, defeated Kenya’s Amos Eboso by submission in what ANZA MMA described as a rematch; the statement said the two previously fought at ANZA MMA’s first event in June 2025, where Cardanelli also won by submission.

ANZA MMA said eight of the nine fights ended by submission, technical knockout (TKO) or knockout (KO), with only one contest going to the judges. Among the quickest finishes cited was Shadrack Otieno’s 30-second rear-naked choke submission win over Aman Niyigena in a lightweight bout.

Other results on the main card included Uganda’s Shaffik Assuma defeating Kenya’s Jared Otieno by disqualification in a flyweight bout, according to the organiser.

On the preliminary card, ANZA MMA listed Martin Mwanza defeating Djibril Binego by TKO, Steve Munyi defeating Kamya Pison by TKO, and Matthew Lwano defeating Maina Morgan by judges’ decision. The organiser also listed Eric Ngari defeating KO Gordon Juma, and Kennedy Adaki defeating Eugine Oyugi by submission.

Why it matters

While MMA remains a niche sport compared with football and athletics in Kenya, regular fight nights and structured amateur-to-professional pathways can support a growing combat-sports economy—spanning gyms, coaching, event production, venue partnerships and sponsorship—particularly in Nairobi’s entertainment circuit. The Alchemist has increasingly hosted sports and lifestyle events, underlining the link between nightlife venues and ticketed sports programming.

The attendance of officials from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, as cited by ANZA MMA, also points to continued interest in how emerging sports fit within Kenya’s broader creative and sports economy agenda, including athlete development and event-hosting opportunities.

Next steps

ANZA MMA announced its next professional event is scheduled for June 6, 2026 at The Broadwalk Mall in Nairobi. The promotion said the card will include Kenyan fighters Ouhsummer Ali Abad, Kevin Odongo, Georgi Itumo and Alhassan Mosala, and that it expects regional participation from Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan.

ANZA MMA staged its Fight Night 007 on Thursday, 26 March 2026 at The Alchemist in Nairobi, bringing together largely Kenyan amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters and featuring 10 athletes making their amateur debuts, according to a statement issued on 27 March 2026.

The organisers said the main event ended with Hassan Wasswa Muhammed of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy defeating Maina Morgan of Shadow Strikers by technical knockout (TKO) in a bantamweight bout. The co-main event, also at featherweight, saw Hamza Fahim of Mombasa Sharks submit Dickson Aomo of Diani Fight Club via rear naked choke.

The event is ANZA MMA’s second show of its 2026 season and its seventh numbered fight night. The promotion said it used the card to spotlight domestic athletes from multiple regions, including Kisii, Kakamega, Mombasa, and Diani, as well as several gyms in Nairobi.

Fight Night 007 followed ANZA MMA 006, which the organisers said had drawn fighters from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In contrast, the latest event was built around Kenyan participants, a programming choice that the organisers said reflected the growth of the local amateur MMA pipeline.

On the main card, the organisers also reported a featherweight win for Samuel Laurian of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy, who defeated Brayan Ray via verbal tap. In another bantamweight contest, Bobby Kamande of Chanuka Self-Defense earned a decision win over Lwando Matthew.

In the preliminary bouts highlighted by the organisers, Wayne Achoki beat Hashim Sefu by decision; Evans Kaburia won by third-round referee stoppage against Felix Tole; and Chris Mutea defeated Guraib Rukwaro by decision. Ray Tsuma recorded a TKO win over Josiah Aoncha, while Shadrack Otieno beat Alex Njathi by decision. In a welterweight bout, Amos Eboso won via TKO against Brazilian opponent Augusto Kohn.

The organisers said: “ANZA MMA returned for the second time this year with its seventh event on Thursday, 26 March 2026 at The Alchemist, Nairobi.” They added that “10 fighters made their amateur debut on the card.”

While the event sits in the sports and entertainment category, it also intersects with Kenya’s broader live events economy, which includes venue operators, ticketing platforms, brand sponsors, gyms, and sports content distribution. Regularly scheduled fight nights can help stabilise revenue streams for training facilities and event partners and create more structured pathways for athlete development, particularly in combat sports that have historically relied on sporadic competitions.

ANZA MMA also positioned the series as a feeder for higher-level competition, saying it aims to “develop the next generation of fighters” and “prepare them for regional and international competition.” The statement added that in 2025, “KO Fight Night by ANZA MMA” delivered what it described as Kenya’s “first-ever professionally sanctioned Mixed Martial Arts event,” bringing together professional fighters from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Going forward, the key milestones for the promotion will be scheduling additional 2026 season events and maintaining a consistent calendar that supports athlete progression from amateur to professional bouts, alongside expanding regional participation where appropriate.

ANZA MMA staged what it said was Kenya’s first professionally sanctioned mixed martial arts (MMA) event on Friday, December 5, 2025, at Broadwalk Mall in Nairobi, bringing together professional fighters from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in a card where every bout ended in a stoppage.

In a press release dated December 8, 2025, the promoter said the event, branded KO Fight Night by ANZA MMA, was sold out and was also broadcast live on YouTube. ANZA MMA added that the broadcast featured commentary from Julio DeSouza, who it described as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and co-founder of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy, and was hosted by Alex Holi.

The event signals a push to formalise and monetise combat sports in Kenya through professionally sanctioned formats, broadcast distribution and event production, as local promoters test whether MMA can attract consistent gate revenues and sponsorship in a market where boxing and football have traditionally dominated attention.

ANZA MMA said the Nairobi card drew entertainment acts including Savara, Octopizzo and Boutross, with live performances between fights. The promoter positioned the event as part of its broader effort to build an MMA pipeline in the region, following years focused on developing amateur competition.

On the sporting side, ANZA MMA reported first-round wins on the main card for Kenyan fighters Ouhsummer Ali Abad, George Itumo and Kelvin Odongo. Odongo received what the promoter termed the “KO of the Night” bonus, while Tanzanian fighter Dauda Rajabu was awarded “Submission of the Night,” according to the statement.

“Tonight was a historic moment not only for ANZA MMA but for Kenya and East African combat sports,” Peng Chen, founder of ANZA MMA, said in the release. “The athletes delivered world-class performances, the fans brought unforgettable energy and the entire country proved it is ready for elite professional MMA.”

Chen said the promotion plans to expand its events calendar next year. “Next year, fans can expect to see more ANZA MMA amateur and pro fights in Nairobi and different regions in the country,” he said.

ANZA MMA also said the event attracted interest from international MMA organisations “including UFC PFL and AKO,” adding that Daniel Kijo, identified as Director of Marketing & Operations at PFL Africa, attended “as a show of PFL Africa’s interest in ANZA MMA and developing local talent.” The statement did not disclose any commercial agreements, rights deals or investment commitments linked to the attendance.

Main-card results listed by the promoter were: Ouhsummer Ali Abad (Kenya) defeated Stephen Rackara (Uganda) by Round 1 TKO (Ground & Pound) at featherweight; George Itumo (Kenya) defeated Joel Ssemanda (Uganda) by Round 1 TKO (Ground & Pound) at bantamweight; Kelvin Odongo (Kenya) defeated Jonani Tugume (Uganda) by Round 1 TKO (Strikes) at heavyweight; and Dauda Rajabu (Tanzania) defeated Farouk Ogwal (Uganda) by Round 1 submission (Triangle Choke) at flyweight.

Preliminary results listed were: Rashidi Mlegelo (Tanzania) defeated Justin Okot (Uganda) by Round 1 submission (Rear Naked Choke) at featherweight; Annet Rose Kiiza (Uganda) defeated Rael Ashubwe (Kenya) by Round 2 TKO (Ground & Pound) at flyweight; and Moses Musisi (Uganda) defeated Joakim Ikalakala (Kenya) by Round 2 submission (“Mother’s Milk”) at welterweight.

For Kenya’s sports business ecosystem, the key test will be whether professionally sanctioned MMA can sustain repeat events through ticketing, sponsorship and media distribution—particularly as promoters seek to build reliable athlete pathways, coaching infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. ANZA MMA said KO Fight Night was supported by Kenya Originals, Açaí Oasis, You C.1000 Drinks, MMA Gold and HustleSasa.

ANZA MMA said it will stage more amateur and professional fight nights in 2026, expanding beyond Nairobi to other regions, as it works to grow the sport’s national footprint.