Seven fights, seven finishes: ANZA MMA debuts with explosive fight night in Nairobi

By 7:00 pm, the crowd inside the transformed atrium of the Mall was already electric, a sold-out throng primed for carnage.

Kenya had entered a new era of combat sports. 

ANZA MMA, the organization behind East Africa’s burgeoning mixed martial arts scene, hosted its first-ever professionally sanctioned fight night, and it was nothing short of thrilling.

From the moment the lights flickered on, the sold-out crowd roared like a Nairobi matatu refusing to give way.

Every seat filled, every eye locked on the cage, every moment pulsing with primal anticipation. 

Across seven fights, there wasn’t a single judge’s scorecard needed. 

Seven bouts. Seven violent conclusions.  And a crowd that responded to each one like a volcano letting off steam.

The production further elevated the inaugural event. 

The event tapped into the expertise of analyst and BJJ black belt Julio DeSouza, giving the broadcast the polish of a veteran promotion, while Alex Holi—yes, the Big Brother Africa alumni—hosted with the energy of someone who’d been waiting years for Kenya to get its MMA moment.

Beyond the cage, ANZA MMA elevated the night into a spectacle. 

And if you needed a reminder that MMA is now part of the cultural conversation in Kenya, you only had to glance at the front row.

Savara, Octopizzo, Boutross, Nviiri the Storyteller — a who’s who of Kenyan entertainment — pulled up to witness a new era unfold.

Performances in between fights elevated the event beyond just a fight night; it became a fusion of sport and art.

The Kenyan trio who headlined the main card came ready to make statements — and left no room for interpretation.

Ouhsummer Ali Abad “Ninja Turtle”

If you blinked, you missed it. 

Abad stormed out of his corner with the urgency of a man trying to beat Nairobi traffic before rush hour. 

A takedown, a blizzard of elbows, and Stephen Rackara was done before he could settle into rhythm. Round 1 TKO.

George Itumo

Same script. 

Different execution. 

Itumo dragged Joel Ssemanda into deep water almost instantly and drowned him with relentless ground-and-pound. Kenya 2, Uganda 0.

Kelvin Odongo — KO of the Night

Then came the heavyweight sledgehammer. 

Odongo walked in with bad intentions and left with a bonus, detonating a barrage of strikes that turned Jonani Tugume’s night from hopeful to over in seconds. 

The KO of the Night wasn’t a tough decision — it was Odongo’s world, and the cage was simply renting space.

Lest anyone think the night was a Kenyan sweep, Tanzania’s finest made sure the region’s rivalry stayed balanced.

Dauda Rajabu — Submission of the Night

Rajabu snatched up Farouk Ogwal like a man repossessing property, locking in a tight triangle choke that forced a tap before Ogwal could even contemplate escape. 

Rashidi Mlegelo

On the prelims, Mlegelo showed that Tanzanian grapplers came to Nairobi with a purpose. A rear-naked choke in Round 1 sealed the deal and silenced any doubt.

Though Uganda took some lumps, they didn’t leave empty-handed.

Annet Rose Kiiza

Kiiza delivered one of the grittiest wins of the night, surviving early pressure to finish Kenya’s Rael Ashubwe via TKO in Round 2. 

Moses Musisi

Moses Musisi finished the prelims in textbook domination, but with a violent twist. Against Joakim Ikalakala, he dragged the fight to the ground and locked in the Mother’s Milk submission — an excruciating hold that twisted elbows and shoulders into unnatural angles.

Ikalakala tapped twice before it even registered. The type of stuff grappling nerds dream about. 

Among the spectators was PFL Africa’s Director of Marketing & Operations, Daniel Kijo, who made the trip to witness ANZA’s milestone firsthand. 

Speaking after the final bell, ANZA MMA founder Peng Chen described the event as a 'historic' moment for the organisation, and for Kenya. 

“Tonight was a historic moment not only for ANZA MMA but for Kenya and East African combat sports." He said. 

"The athletes delivered world-class performances, the fans brought unforgettable energy and the entire country proved it is ready for elite professional MMA… Next year, fans can expect more ANZA MMA amateur and pro fights in Nairobi and across the country.”