KO Fight Nights by ANZA MMA returned to The Alchemist, Nairobi, on Sunday, August 17, 2025, for its second edition – you can now watch all the fights on ANZA MMA YouTube.  Kenya’s first officially licensed Mixed Martial Arts promotion, sanctioned by the Kenya Oriental Combat Sports Federation, the night delivered non-stop action with thrilling fight results that kept fans on the edge of their seats.

The exhilarating evening drew fighters, alongside fans of MMA, revellers and media who watched the showdown happening inside the cage. Cementing its status as East Africa’s premier amateur MMA league, KO Fight Night 1 brought in fighters from across East Africa in 8 fights, with each fight in 3 rounds, each lasting 3 minutes. 

The outcome of the fights is as follows: Hendrik Jebsen (Tanzania)defeated Osman Idris (Uganda) by TKO, Laurian Samuel (Kenya) defeated James Nasongo (Kenya) by KO, while Asuma Shafik (Uganda) Vs Gordon Juma (Kenya) and Bobby Kamande (Kenya) Vs Kevin Tunai (Kenya) both ended in draws. Norman Mondo (Kenya) secured a TKO victory over Eric Ngari (Kenya), Wanendeya Raymond (Uganda) defeated Steve Bach (Kenya) by TKO and Amos Eboso (Kenya) overcame Jonathan Nsubuga (Uganda) by TKO with Hassan Muhammed (Uganda) closing the night with a TKO win over Francis Mwangangi (Kenya).

KO Fight Nights, organized by ANZA MMA, provides a platform for amateur fighters in East Africa to sharpen their skills and aspire to become professionals but also adheres to safety standards. Peng Chen, Founder of ANZA MMA says, “Fighter safety is our first priority. Our bouts are matched by weight and skill level, protective gear is mandatory and every athlete undergoes medical exams before and after each match.”

Peng also emphasized on the league’s role in athlete development and safety as the Kenya Oriental Combat Sports Federation enforces strict safety protocols to safeguard competitor wellbeing, while confirming that all results of the fights have been uploaded on Tapology.com to ensure international record-keeping and recognition. 

The event also marked the first partnership between ANZA MMA and Kenya Originals. Beyond its involvement with ANZA, Kenya Originals (KO) is also backing the Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy in developing the first professional MMA team in the region. Alexandra Chappatte, CEO of Kenya Originals, says, “We’re incredibly excited to support KO Fight Nights and be part of this movement to build up MMA in Kenya and across East Africa. We believe in supporting local talent and this platform is a powerful expression of that commitment, blending sport, culture and community in a bold and authentic way.”

This momentum excites Daniel Kijo, Director of Marketing and Operations at PFL Africa. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) — the world’s second largest MMA promotion — recently launched its Africa division under the leadership aura of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou (Cameroon).

Kijo says, “The potential for this sport on this continent is enormous. Professionalization of amateur leagues, promotions, training, sport management — all of these are critical to growing the sport ecosystem. PFL is here to support activities that elevate the sport on the continent. I also hope we’ll see much more MMA on our regular media channels soon.”

Reflecting on the significance of the platform, Julio DeSouza, Co-Founder of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy (NJA), says,  “Local amateur fighters have long lacked access to structured competition. KO Fight Nights is filling that gap, offering regular opportunities to compete at a high level while building the skills and experience needed to transition into professional MMA,” asserting, “This is an essential step forward for the sport in East Africa.”

ANZA MMA is now finalizing its second semester calendar, which will feature two more amateur events leading up to the league’s first-ever professional showcase in December 2025. As MMA continues to surge in popularity globally, KO Fight Nights is setting a new benchmark for the sport in Kenya and East Africa, providing fighters with the platform, visibility, and professionalism they need to thrive. Each event further strengthens the pathway from grassroots to professional levels, laying a solid foundation for the sport’s future across the continent.

By showcasing emerging talent, honoring pioneering figures and empowering youth, ANZA MMA has set a new standard for combat sports in the region, firmly placing Kenya on the global MMA map.