By Sab Osuji

Combat sports promoter, Chief Ifeakandu Obiudo, says he was pleased with the success of 'OFU Fight Night 3' and that it will be staged on quarterly basis in the state.

Obiudo further disclosed that the mixed martial art cage fight was the first of its kind in Anambra state, informing that previously, two editions of the cage fight had been successfully been in Lagos.

"We've held the first and second editions of the OFU Mixed Martial Art Cage Fights in Lagos and it was a huge success. So I decided to bring it home to Awka, Anambra State in line with the Akuluo Uno Philosophy of the present administration in Anambra State", Obiudo gleefully said.

Obiudo informed that the initiative will now be held on quarterly basis in line with the 'Akuluo Uno philosophy' of Governor Chukwuma Soludo's administration in Anambra State.

"It's part of our own effort and contribution towards empowering the youths and taking them away from crimes so they can use their natural potentials to better their lives and become more useful to themselves, their families, communities, state and nation at large".

He described sports as 'a multi-million dollar industry".

"Today, we've showcased Mixed Martial Art in Awka and by extension Anambra state at large in line with the 'Akuluo Uno' philosophy of the present administration under the leadership of Governor Charles Soludo", the fight organiser began. 

"The essence is to promote combat sports and engage the youths by channelling their energies positively.

"Our plan is to have this event on quarterly basis and by this development, we want to create a Mixed Martial Art Academy in the state because we intend to produce great combat athletes that will hopefully go abroad and feature at the global stage including featuring in the UFC like Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya. 

"Despite the fact that we had some setbacks on Saturday, the initial date of the event, owing to Force Majeure, the fight night recorded a massive turn out on Sunday with an electrifying atmosphere which had captains of industries, market men and women, politicians, academics and students in attendance," Obiudo said.

Exclusivenews.com.ng understands that Obiudo is the South East Zonal Representative in the board of Kickboxing Federation of Nigeria.

He further informed that they have made phone numbers available and that the social media handle also ready to entertain questions and entries from youths who have indicated interest to be part of the innovation. 

He however lamented that funding was a major challenge while calling on sports lovers, captains of industries and corporate organizations to be part of the show as the OFU Mixed Martial Art has come to stay.

Four countries, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda,  Rwanda and host, Nigeria  mixed martial art fighters featured in the first Mixed Martial Art Cage fight held in Awka, Anambra State on Sunday, November 5, 2023 under the auspices of  One Fight Ultimate, OFU.

Tagged 'One Fight Ultimate (OFU) Solution Fight Night 3', there was no dull moment as the six fights on the card for the night kept spectators on their toes while the fights lasted. 

Fans emptied into the X-Fit/Oma Event Centre, venue of fight, first of its kind in the South East State, to watch the brutal cage fight which they were used to watch on the on television under the World Wrestling Federation, WWF.

The gritty martial fight was the brainchild and sole initiative of the Founder and Chief Executive of OFU, Chief Ifeakandu Obiudo (Ofuonye na Alor). The combat sporting event which is a replica of the global popular UFC saw combat athletes drawn from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Rwanda featuring in the historic combat sports program.

Six fights were on the cards for the night's show of raw strenght, skill and dexterity. The OFU Mixed Martial Art featured six fights on the night as combat sports followers made up of businessmen, captains of industries, public servants, politicians, academics and students were all in attendance.

In the first fight of the night, Nigerian combat athlete, Stanford Ebere a.k.a 'Shaolin Tiger' defeated his opponent Ken Boton from DR Congo via technical knockout in a flyweight challenge. 

Venatious Chidubem Iyinagolu a.k.a 'Dubem' upended Emeka Onyebuchi 'The Tiger' via submission in the heavyweight challenge.

For the middleweight challenge, DR Congo's Christopher Moly saw off the challenge of Ebenezer Imbu 'De Dragon' in a unanimous decision by the judges. Daniel Iwuoha, 'Danny The Great' defeated Philemon Bitrus Jeb 'Captain Hook' to earn supremacy in the lightweight challenge.

Jean-Jacques Lubaya of DR Congo came out victorious in the featherweight challenge against his Nigerian opponent Chukwuemerie Okoli 'Oseoji' while Terlumen Gertrude Doose 'The Woman King' defeated Rebecca Amongi from Uganda in the only women's fight on the night.