AKO6 Ignites Lagos with Dazzling Combat Extravaganza

The African Knockout Championship (AKO6) once again solidified its status as the only pan-African Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) championship, uniting elite fighters from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Benin Republic, Angola, South Africa, Ivory Coast, and Ghana. This thrilling event transformed Lagos into the epicenter of African combat sports, delivering a spectacular night of high-octane entertainment, unmatched athleticism, and captivating showdowns. 

Held at the Monarch Event Center, AKO6 featured electrifying matchups across featherweight, light-heavyweight, middleweight, lightweight, and women’s bantamweight divisions, cementing its reputation as a must-watch spectacle. Fans were treated to a series of unforgettable moments, further proving AKO’s ability to combine world-class sportsmanship with pure adrenaline. 

In a gripping main event, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ananias Mulumba, nicknamed “Metal,” showcased dominance with a second-round TKO victory over Nigeria’s “Smiling Assassin,” Jackiel Anyana, securing his place in the championship finals and sending the crowd into a frenzy.  Adding to the excitement, Nigeria’s Cornel Thompson delivered the Performance of the Night, dismantling Ghana’s Richard Asiedu in the first round of their lightweight final elimination with a commanding display of precision and power. 

The Fight of the Night belonged to Morocco’s Faout Youseff and Angola’s Andre Mukisi, whose featherweight clash had fans on the edge of their seats. The suspense-filled bout was a masterclass of skill, precision, and relentless energy. A bloody exchange and high-paced action lit up the arena as Youseff emerged victorious via unanimous decision, earning thunderous applause for his resilience and technical prowess. Other highlights included a lightning-fast submission victory by Burkina Faso’s Abdou Sankara, who defeated Nigeria’s Dennis Emmanuel with a guillotine choke in just 48 seconds, and South Africa’s Chad Hanekom’s first-round rear-naked choke win over Benin Republic’s Cherif Drame. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Yahaya Yahuza triumphed over Odogu Isaac in a thrilling middleweight contest, and Morocco’s Mandar Sanaa continued her dominance in the women’s bantamweight division.