Lagos Hosts Historic AFC World Series

The AFC World Series Championships has lit up the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere with explosive Mixed Martial Arts action.

The tournament, which began on Thursday, is expected to feature more than 100 fights by the final on Sunday.

This historic championship, sanctioned by the Nigerian MMA Federation, marks a significant milestone for the growth of the sport in Nigeria. It is the first private African promotion officially recognised as a continental ranking and scoring platform for MMA.

Founded by entrepreneur Raad Aswani, the event has received endorsements from the Nigerian MMA Federation, the National Sports Commission, the Lagos State Sports Commission, and the African MMA Confederation.

Sunday’s finale will include award presentations and a spotlight on athletes, in what organisers hope will be a major step forward in MMA development across Africa.

In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Sports Extra on Saturday, Aswani said this milestone firmly positions Africa on the global combat sports map, with Nigeria poised to play a leading role in shaping the sport’s future.

“As an individual, I have always wanted to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather, Ansani, who was a renowned trader in Nigeria. I want to contribute to the development of sports and entertainment. That inspired me to introduce this idea, called the ‘Next Contenders Programme and Beyond,’” Aswani said.

According to him, AFC is transforming African combat sports by creating champions inside the cage while nurturing leaders, innovators, educators, and entrepreneurs outside it.

The four-day event has delivered on Aswani’s promise of explosive entertainment, featuring female bouts and four strawweight athletes among the 76 competitors who registered for the championships.

Winners at Sunday’s closing ceremony will receive medals presented directly by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission and the Director General, symbolising the government’s strong support for the initiative.

Major international platforms have taken notice of the event, with collaborations already underway, according to Aswani.

Nigerian MMA Federation President Henry George said the event is sanctioned and supervised to ensure compliance with international rules, scoring systems, and safety standards.

He explained that MMA in Nigeria now follows a standard framework that ensures safety and provides a clear ranking system for selecting national representatives.

“Our role is to supervise, maintain standards in scoring, and guide fighter progression from amateur to professional levels,” George said.

He added that athletes would require a minimum of ten fights before turning professional, with strict medical, regulatory, and safety standards enforced.

UFC star Sodiq Yussuf, who is supporting the event, praised the initiative’s role in developing the sport at the amateur level in Nigeria.

Yussuf, who frequently returns to Nigeria for charity work, also identified areas for improvement in Nigerian MMA.

“There is definitely raw talent in Nigeria. I always say Nigerians are built strong, you know. They handle adversity very well, which is a huge part of this sport. But the one thing I would say is still missing in Nigeria is the technical aspect of wrestling and grappling,” he said.

Source: Punch