The African Knockout Championship (AKO) hosted its 8th tournament series AKO 8, and it was a night to remember. The event took place at the Pistons Conference Center, Lekki, Lagos, where fighters from across African countries such as Senegal, Cameroon, Morocco, and others stepped into the cage to deliver electrifying performances.
Headlining AKO 8 was the featherweight main event bout between Senegalese fighter Gasmire Diatta and Moroccan Faout Youssef. Both fighters began cautiously, hesitant to make the first move. Youssef eventually landed a body kick and attempted a takedown, but Diatta sprawled effectively and stayed on his feet. The fighters then engaged in a clinch, but Diatta executed a well-timed takedown.
The grappling continued with Diatta securing a full mount, while Youssef attempted a guillotine choke. Diatta managed to escape the submission and return to his feet, while Youssef remained on the canvas. Once back up, Diatta stayed on the offensive, pressing Youssef against the cage. Although the Moroccan showed strong defense, Diatta took him down again and unleashed a series of ground-and-pound strikes. Youssef managed to survive the barrage and returned to his feet.
In Round Two, Diatta came out with more energy, absorbed a leg kick from Youssef, and responded with a savage right-left combination followed by another takedown. He continued with hammer fists and headshots that rocked Youssef, but the Moroccan—nicknamed “Super Saiyan”—recovered and got back on his feet. The two exchanged strikes until a brief pause was called due to an eye poke by Diatta. After the fight resumed, Diatta maintained the pressure and kept Youssef on the back foot. His persistence paid off when he landed another brutal right-left combo, dropping Youssef to the canvas. Diatta followed up with a flurry of ground-and-pound strikes, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
In the co-main event of AKO 8, Ivorian fighter Xavier Adams Boa faced Benatius Chidubem Iyinagolu in a light heavyweight bout. The fight began with cautious striking before transitioning into a clinch. Venatius soon gained the upper hand, taking Adams to the canvas. Adams quickly recovered and returned to his feet. Venatius secured a headlock, and the two briefly sprawled before resetting on their feet. Adams then backed Venatius against the cage and delivered a series of knees, but Venatius retaliated with a spinning elbow and broke free from the clinch. Adams responded with a heavy right swing followed by a knee to the head, but Venatius secured a rear body lock.
Venatius scored another takedown, but Adams caught him in a headlock. He wriggled free, and the two continued grappling on the floor until the end of Round One.
Venatius came into Round two with renewed energy and attempted a takedown, which led to another clinch. He landed a knee before disengaging. He then swung a heavy right that missed, and the fighters clinched again. However, Adams landed an illegal headbutt that dropped Benatius. As a result, the bout ended in a disqualification win for Benatius.
Main Card Results:
• Gasmire Diatta def. Faout Youssef via Round 2 KO
• Venatius Iyinagolu def. Xavier Adams Boa via disqualification
• Jane Osigwe def. Cynthia Jibidae via unanimous decision
• Chad Hanekom def. Abdoulaye Kone via Round 3 TKO
• Sanaa Mandar def. Joy Obanla via unanimous decision
• Bitrus Philemon def. Mathieu Aboya via Round 1 TKO
• Fongfo Jordan def. Sodiq Amao via unanimous decision
• Emmanuel Nworie def. Kingsley Ajunwa via TKO
• Lewis Mataya def. Damilare Ayilaran via Round 1 submission
