The maiden edition of the Global association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA) Nigeria kicked off her national open Kickboxing Championship on Friday at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City, platinumnewsng.com is reporting.
The two day event kicked off at the indoor multi-purpose with a seminar for officials, after which medicals were done for all participating athletes. Weighing in was done to climax the first stage of the championship.
Merit Nwaje and Goodness Collins of the -47.6kg weight Category were the first pair who staged off on the mat. The bout began evenly until Goodness submitted to her opponent, which saw Merit declared winner by the umpire. Other results of the fight night includes: Chidinma Obiefulem (Edo State) losing to Peter Winifred (Fab Diva Club) by Referee stoping the contest (RSC) in the -52.2kg weight Category; Quadri Bilikis (Fab Diva Eagle Club) defeated Michael Bibien (Ogun State) after the Referee Stopped the contest due to injury (RSCI) in the -52.2kg weight Category.
Chukwu Emeka Ajike (Heroes Club) defeated Harrison Amomoh (Edo State) by unanimous decision in the – 65.8kg weight Category. Miracle Andrews(Heroes Club) defeated Blessing Isaiah (Edo State) by submission in the -56.7kg weight category. Gabriel Etafo (Edo State) also lost to Joseph Edem (Cross River State) by Referee Stoping the contest (RSC) in the -65.8kg weight category.
Idara Monday(Akwa Ibom State) lost to Idowu Busayo (Edo State) by unanimous decision in – 56.7kg weight Category while Bolaji Samson (Ekiti State) lost to Paul Adeyemi (Edo State) by Split decision in the -70.3kg weight Category
In the -70.3kg weight Category, Arinola Ayodele (Edo State) walked over Ogechi Njoku (Edo State) who didn’t show up for the bout.
Speaking with Journalists at the end of the first day of activities, the Chairman organizing committee of the two day Championship who also doubles as the national co-odinator of GAMMA Nigeria, Mr Valentine Morah commended the athletes for the professionals display throughout the bouts for the day, highlighting that the GAMMA open Championship was an initiative to raise the standard of mixed martial arts in the country.
He also showered praises on the State sports commission for the warmth reception and the hospital himself and his team have received since coming to Edo State, commending the high level of equipment and facilities on ground in the State.
“One of the best presentations you can ever think of is this GAMMA national open Championship. Edo State have some of the best fighters in the country, being a sports loving state. Kudos to Team Edo for their performance so far, and Kudos to the Edo State sports commission for accepting to host us, and for hosting us and taking good care of us so far.”
According to him, this event is to help the Team Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts fighters prepare adequately for the forthcoming all Africa games which will be hosted by Ghana by March 2023.
“We look forward to presenting the best mixed martial arts team that Nigerians will ever think of at the all Africa games coming up in Ghana, we hope to do well there and come home with a lot of medals.”