Nairobi witnessed a night of explosive mixed martial arts action on Friday as all eight bouts at the CHEZA CHEZA ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 ended in the first round. The professional fight night, held at the Village Market rooftop on September 19, brought together fighters from Kenya, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Sudan.
Kenya’s George “The Maverick” Itumo headlined the event, submitting Angola’s Jorge Correia by armbar in the bantamweight main event. Itumo’s victory earned him the Submission of the Night award, capping a dominant performance in front of the home crowd. This victory showcased Itumo's skills and solidified his position as a top fighter in the region.
Angola’s Daniela Mandanji also impressed on her professional debut, submitting Uganda’s Rebecca Amongi with a rear-naked choke in the flyweight division. Mandanji entered the professional ranks after a successful amateur career that included gold at the 2025 IMMAF Amateur World Championships and several national titles in Angola. Her debut win demonstrated her potential as a rising star in women's MMA.
Kenya recorded two more victories on the night, with Brian Munyi stopping Uganda’s Cyplian Katumba by TKO in the featherweight division, while Kevin Odongo secured a heavyweight stoppage against Uganda’s Kasozi Umaru to claim the KO of the Night award. These wins highlighted the strength of Kenya's MMA contingent and their ability to compete at a high level.
Tanzania’s Rashid Mlegelo and Chris Tibenda, Madagascar’s Tsinjo Rakotomaria and South Sudan’s Alhassan Mosala also recorded victories as every bout on the card ended before the second round. Rakotomaria’s victory over Uganda’s Lawrence Mukiibi earned him the Fight of the Night award, showcasing the competitive nature of the event.
The event also featured Angola’s Demarte Pena “The Wolf”, a former EFC and ARES world champion, who attended as a special guest and referee. ANZA MMA founder Peng Chen announced that the promotion will introduce official championship belts beginning with its next professional event scheduled for December. The belts will form part of efforts to build the identity of the Pro Fight Nights series while giving fighters more opportunities to compete and gain exposure.
The third edition of the Pro Nights series featured athletes from across the continent, highlighting the growing interest in professional mixed martial arts in Africa and Nairobi’s role as a host for international MMA events. This event demonstrated the progress being made in African MMA and set the stage for future growth and competition in the region.
Key points
- George "The Maverick" Itumo submitted Angola's Jorge Correia by armbar in the bantamweight main event.
- All eight bouts at the ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 ended in the first round.
- ANZA MMA will introduce official championship belts at its next professional event in December.
