NAN-S-3
Martial Arts
By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
Lagos, March 19, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NMMAF) in its bid to popularise the sport will on April 30, stage what it tagged, “Fight Night’’ for athletes to exhibit their skills.
The President of NMMAF, Henry George, disclosed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos that the event would hold at the Prestigious Event Centre, at the Rivers Capital, Port Harcourt.
George said the competition, which was open to interested athletes, had the objective of promoting combat sports in the country and stepping-up athletes to the current height of combat sports market demand globally.
“We have concluded arrangements to stage a competition for athletes that are in combat sports in our country as a way to promote and encourage the fighters.
“Mixed martial arts are a fast growing beat in the sports industry worldwide and this upcoming competition is a way to key in our athletes in the moving wagon,’’ he said.
He said the event would feature Abdul Tigger, the first Nigerian to win Pro Kickboxing under the auspices of World Association Kickboxing Organisation (WAKO) competing with Ini So, an Akwa-Ibom martial arts champion.
George, also the President of Dynamite Fighting Championship Africa (DFCA), said that Tigger would be making his first appearance in the competition since its inception in 2011.
“The awareness is in the air and a lot of athletes are preparing to make a mark at the event because international stars will also be competing,’’ he said.
George added that the event would by extension be used to promote sports tourism in Nigeria as there would be various cultural dances on display to make the event memorable.
NAN reports that Mixed Martial Arts are full contact combat sports that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques in both standing and sitting positions from varieties of martial art sports.
It encompasses discipline from various martial arts and Olympics sports such as Boxing, Kickboxing, Karate, Taekwondo and Judo. (NAN)
MIL/PDE
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(Editing by Peter Ejiofor)