One of Nigeria’s most prolific MMA gyms, TMAKickboxing, recently announced the abrupt dismissal of several fighters under its sponsorship.
On May 8, TMAKickboxing, owned by MMA fighter Segun Ogunnoiki, revealed that fighters David Obasieme, Peter Onuh, Solomon Yakubu and Raphael Uba had been released from the organization and would no longer represent TMAKickboxing.
Following the announcement, Afrocombat reached out to one of the dismissed fighters, Solomon “Blackscorpion” Yakubu, for comments on the situation.
“Based on the recent situation, TMA management made it clear to us that they don’t want to train athletes or fighters anymore,” Yakubu said.
“And regarding the trainers, they said that due to the low number of clients at the gym, they would not be able to keep paying us.
“They went further to say that some of the trainers were not keeping to the rules and regulations of their contracts.
“So they said they could not work with us anymore and were sending us off and evacuating us from the trainers’ lodge.
“We respectfully left without any fight or argument, but the recent post I saw was what I couldn’t comprehend. It’s crazy to say all sorts of things about people who once worked for you and post our pictures like some kind of criminals.
“But that’s what they want people out there to think of us psychologically.
“Thank you for reaching out and for your understanding.”
According to Yakubu, the decision by the organization came as a surprise, especially since the fighters had already accepted the terms of their dismissal without conflict.
However, when contacted for comment, TMAKickboxing shared a different side of the story.
“It was a hard but necessary decision for the sake and reputation of the business,” the organization said. “Such individuals were engaging in activities that did not align with the values of the team and the brand, hence the drastic measure.
“Be rest assured we remain committed to maintaining high standards of business and practice.”
As of now, it remains unclear whether the fighters and TMAKickboxing will eventually reconcile, as tensions still appear to linger between both sides.
Meanwhile, business continues as usual at TMAKickboxing, while fighters like Solomon Yakubu and Raphael Uba have reportedly teamed up to create a kickboxing fitness center of their own.
