The Sol by Boxmall company in Lagos, Nigeria, hosted the AKO 3 tournament on March 2, 2024. The event showcased the skills of formidable fighters in Africa and presented some of the most exciting mixed martial arts performances of 2024.
The AKO show has delivered some of the most refreshing and fast-paced MMA bouts in Africa in the past, and the new season promises to be just as entertaining. The evening held a fantastic lineup of nine fight cards. Headlining the event was Abdelghani Saber vs. Josias Musasa in the featherweight division. In the co-main event, Flex Munwe faced Segun Ogunnoiki in the middleweight division.
The undercards included James Opio vs. Bello Abdulbasit in the lightweight division, Isreal Mano vs. Dennis Johnson in the light heavyweight division, and Brian Bernard Seret vs. Jackiel Ayana in the featherweight division.
Precious Okoh battled Jibida Cynthia in the women’s bantamweight division. Next was Francois Ahizi vs Cornel Thompson, lightweight; Xavier Adams Boa vs Ugochukwu Melvin, light heavyweight; and Jean-Do Santos vs Jubril Inuwa Baba, lightweight division.
MAIN CARD
Abdelghani Saber vs Josias Musasa
Musasa came in hot with punches and stalked Saber around the cage. His opponent tried for a takedown, but Musasa reversed and ended up in a full mount. He destroyed as Saber with a heavy ground pound that led to a KO in round one.
Flex Munwe vs. Segun Ogunnoiki
The match began with an explosive high kick and a flurry of jabs from Munwe. He went in for the kill and performed a takedown while Ogunnoiki struggled to keep his guard up. Munwe tried a body lift, but Ogunnoiki remained defensive, broke out of the grapple, and got back on his feet. Munwe backed him up to the cage with a couple of jabs and punches and continued to hammer Ogunnoiki before going in for another takedown.
However, Ogunnoiki recovered swiftly and countered with a few strikes. “Machine gun shegz” remained on the back foot in the fight and kept his guard up before landing an uppercut. His opponent went in for a takedown, and the two wrestled for control till the round ended.
Ogunnoiki resumed round two with a nice right-hand jab, but Munwe countered with quick strikes. Ogunnoiki performed leg kicks that connected, but Munwe remained unphased. He soon tackled Ogunnoiki to the canvas, where he landed more deadly strikes before his opponent kicked him off.
Munwe returned to grappling his rival, but Ogunnoiki flipped him and went in for a ground pound. He tried for a choke hold, but Munwe broke through and went for a takedown. Munwe threw a few punches, none connected, and Ogunnoiki kept his guard up.
The final round saw both opponents come at each other with strikes and kicks before the “Monster” went in for a beautiful takedown and fully mounted Ogunnoiki. Ogunnoiki tried a hip bump, but there was no leeway. He finally broke through and was back on his feet, but Munwe came into his guard with an overhand punch and a flying knee strike before another takedown. After a punch-packed fight, Munwe came out victorious following a split decision.
UNDERCARD
James Opio vs Bello Abdulbasit
Making their first AKO debut, the two came in with a leg kick, followed by a beautiful takedown by Opio in the first round. Opio goes for a double takedown in round two before going for a heavy ground pound that led to a TKO/referee stoppage win.
Israel Mano vs Dennis Johnson
Both opponents came in with aggressive kicks and knee strikes before a clinch. After a long clinch, the referee separated the rivals, but they got back at it again before Mano delivered a beautiful takedown. Johnson managed to slip out of the hold and deliver a flying knee strike. The two grappled to the ground but were soon back up, clinching and trying to assert dominance.
Round two saw both opponents come in with leg kicks. They continued to throw weak punches, but Mano landed an overhand punch to the jaw that dropped Johnson, and he went in for a grapple. The third and last round saw Mano deliver punches and kicks. The two continued to exchange blows. Following a lacklustre third round, the match ended with Dennis Johnson victorious following a split decision.
Brian Bernard Seret vs Jackiel Ayana
The rivals came in with quick strikes and kicks, but Ayana scored a head kick and ground pound, leading to a TKO victory in round two.
Precious Okoh vs. Jibidar Cynthia
Jibidar came in with high kicks and strikes, but Okoh had her guard up. They both clinched up, and Okoh tried for a takedown, but Jibidar backed her to the corner. Okoh threw an overhand punch, and Jibidar countered with a right swing. She went for a takedown and landed a barrage of blows before Okoh received a warning for an illegal strike.
Round two began with both opponents landing strikes before clinching up. In the final round, Jibidar scored a takedown and followed through with a ground pound, leading to a TKO win.
In the last three fights, Thompson defeated Ahizi after a unanimous decision, Boa destroyed Ugochukwu following a first-round knockout, and Santos won after a split decision.
