Jackiel Ayana and David Ezekiel emerged winners at the Akalaka 009, tagged ‘The Battle of the Mystic Sword’, an action-packed night of mixed martial arts and exhibition boxing in Abuja.

The ninth edition of the Akalaka Spirit of the Warrior promotion featured seven MMA bouts across different weight divisions and a special boxing exhibition, showcasing Nigerian talent, discipline and cultural heritage.

Mr Ayana, aka ‘Smiling Assassin’, submitted Victor Dooga, aka ‘The Benue Boy’, to win the featherweight main event through a rare naked choke in two minutes, 37 seconds.

The decisive victory earned Mr Ayana three major honours, including Best Submission, Best Fighter of the Night and the coveted Mystic Sword for his outstanding performance.

Speaking after the contest, Mr Ayana said the victory reflected his dedication, discipline and commitment to continuous improvement, adding that winning the Mystic Sword made the achievement particularly memorable.

“I came here prepared to give my best, and I am delighted that the hard work paid off. This victory will motivate me to keep improving and pursuing greater achievements in my career,” he said.

David Ezekiel, known as ‘The Badger’, won the Best Knockout Artist of the Night award after defeating Joseph James, aka ‘The Great Lion’, by technical knockout. In the welterweight co-main event, Casmir Junior, aka ‘The Poison’, defeated Daniel Appah, aka ‘The RoadMap’, by tap-out submission.

Chima-Cole Emmanuel, aka ‘The Oracle’, also recorded a stoppage victory, knocking out Godwin Ambrose, aka ‘The Big Name’, in the light heavyweight division. Other winners included Beckefula Tarilayefa, who defeated Blessing Ejike, aka ‘The Amazon’, by split decision in the women’s catchweight contest.

Abdulkareen Nasirudeen, aka ‘The Black Wolf’, defeated Aliyu Yusuf in the bantamweight division after his opponent withdrew.

Michael Dawodu, aka ‘The Hero’, edged Onyeka Uche Jim, aka ‘The China Man’, by split decision after three rounds of an entertaining featherweight contest. Mr Ezekiel also secured a technical knockout victory over James in the lightweight division, completing the night’s list of MMA winners.

Inimfon Ekong, popularly known as “The Woman Pharaoh”, defeated Simon Ameh by split decision in an exhibition boxing bout, using the occasion to advocate women’s empowerment and condemn abuse.

Ms Ekong said she was proud to represent women worldwide, urging them to pursue their ambitions without allowing others to undermine their confidence or potential.

“I want women to know that they can achieve their dreams regardless of the challenges they face. Anyone experiencing abuse should seek help and prioritise their safety rather than remain in a dangerous situation,” she said.

She cautioned against imitating exhibition boxing outside a controlled sporting environment, stressing that her appearance followed years of training and preparation. Ms Ekong described the contest as an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone while using sport to communicate an important message about courage, self-belief and personal safety.

(NAN)