Santos needed less than a minute to etch his name into AKO history as he knocks out Jubril in seconds to Claim the AKO Lightweight Championship. The much-anticipated AKO 10 battle for the title lit up the Abuja Velodrome on Saturday, August 23.
The venue transformed into the heart of African MMA action, and the cage fully alive under the evening lights. In the headline bout, Jean Do Santos (8-1) faced off against Jibrin Inuwa Baba (6-2) in a five-round war that ended in just seconds into the round one to claim the vacant AKO Lightweight Championship. Both fighters came into this clash with momentum, past rivalries, and a burning desire to walk out of the Velodrome as the new AKO Lightweight Champion.
For Jean Do Santos (8-1), the road to this title fight has been a rollercoaster. Earlier this year, he faced a tough setback at Ares FC 29 in Paris on February 14, 2025, where he lost a unanimous decision to Phruethukorn Chaichongcharden. The defeat was a wake-up call for him as he returned in spectacular fashion at AKO 9 where he secured a first-round submission win over Emmanuel Nworie via a slick triangle choke at 2:45. This dominant finish reminded the division why he is regarded as one of the most dangerous lightweights in Africa.
Jibrin “Black Venom” Baba (6-2) entered this fight with unfinished business. His journey to AKO 10’s main event has been marked by resilience and redemption. Back on March 2, 2024, at AKO 3, he faced Do Santos in a close battle, losing via split decision after three intense rounds. It was a bitter pill to swallow for him. Determined to climb back, Baba returned to winning ways at AKO 7, where he defeated Abdul Razac Sankara by unanimous decision in a controlled performance that showcased his tactical evolution. That win cemented his status as a top contender and earned him this second shot against his old rival.
This fight wasn’t just about a shiny belt, it’s personal. For Jean Do Santos, it’s a chance to stamp his authority and show the world that his previous win over Baba was no accident. For Jibrin Inuwa Baba, it’s all about redemption. He’s coming in with a point to prove, that he belongs at the very top and that the last loss was just a chapter, not the story.
The atmosphere inside the Abuja Velodrome was electric as the highly anticipated main event kicked off. Jubrin Inuwa Baba was the first to make his walk to the cage, calm and focused, pausing at the entrance to say a quick prayer before stepping into the octagon. Moments later, Jean Do Santos made his way in, with confidence and determination. The fight was a fight everyone expected fireworks from and it didn’t disappoint.
As both warriors stood across from each other, the referee brought them to the center for the customary glove touch. But there was no time for formalities, neither fighter extended a hand. From the very second the opening bell rang, it was all business. The referee signaled, and Santos exploded forward like a coiled spring. Without hesitation, he launched a devastating flying knee that caught Jubrin flush. The impact sent Jubrin crashing to the canvas in a seconds, stunned and vulnerable.
Santos immediately followed up with a barrage of vicious ground-and-pound strikes, hammering away until the referee had no choice but to step in and wave it off. The entire bout lasted mere seconds, a brutal and spectacular finish that left fans in shock
While the main event delivered an explosive finish, the co-main event had its own drama inside the cage. The co-main event featured Gasmire Diatta, known for his knockout power and relentless striking, taking on Andre Mukisi a submission specialist.
The co-main event kicked off with mutual respect as both men touched gloves before getting to business. Mukisi opened the action with a sharp leg kick, looking to test Diatta’s base early. Moments later, he changed levels for a takedown, but Diatta showcased excellent defense, digging his heels in and refusing to be grounded.
Three minutes into the round, momentum shifted as Diatta flipped the script with a takedown of his own, planting Mukisi on the mat. From there, Diatta smothered Mukisi with heavy top pressure, pinning him to the canvas while chipping away with short shots. Mukisi fought desperately to scramble out, but Diatta’s dominance kept him stuck on the mat until the horn sounded to end Round 1.
Round 2 opened with a cold shoulder, Mukisi reached out for a glove touch, but Diatta wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. Instead, he came forward with crisp jabs and leg kicks before unleashing a furious punching flurry that had Mukisi on the defensive. Trying to regain momentum, Mukisi threw another leg kick, but disaster struck, he got injured on his ankle during the process.
Sensing weakness, Diatta didn’t hesitate. He charged forward like, unloading punches as Mukisi struggled to defend himself. With Mukisi down and clearly hurt, the referee had no choice but to step in and stop the fight. Few minutes into the round two of the fight, Tiara won by TKO.
For the latest MMA news, fight recaps, and African fighter highlights, visit AfroCombat. From knockout finishes to historic wins, we bring you the action and keep you close to Africa’s MMA scene. Don’t just watch, experience it with AfroCombat!
AKO 10 official result:
Jean Do Santos def Jubrin Inuwa Baba via KO-R2, 1:30
Gasmire Diatta def Andre Mukisi via TKO
Jane Osigwe def Sanaa Mandar via unanimous decision
Yahaya Yahuza def Cherif Drame via unanimous decision
Cabrel Fongo def Memom Kone via technical decision
Lewis Mataya def Miezan Prince via TKO-R2, 4:49
Fouad Madani def Sodiq Amao via Submission RNC 3;24 R1
Farouk Boudissa def Chukwuemerie Okoli via sub R1, 1:12
Joy Obanla def Ufot Nelson via TKO R2, 4:38
