Jeff Taylor, the President, Warriors Sports Championship (WSC), has expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the just-concluded Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Championship where Angola’s Shido Zoto defeated Esoe Franklin of Cameroon to emerge the winner.
Zoto, crowned King of the Ring, defeated all contenders at the first-ever MMA held in Nigeria to take home the $4,000 prize money, while Franklin went home with $I, 500 for securing the second place.
The competition held from Friday till Monday Sunday night at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos.
No fewer than 22 warriors graced the occasion from Cameroon, Cote D’IVoire, Ghana, Lebanon and Nigeria, the host.
It tournament also recorded the first-ever ultra modern oval shaped MMA ring where fighters entertained a crowd of spectators.
In the title fight of the day, Nigeria’s Emmanuel Onoja and Lebanese Amer Abdulnabi recorded a no-contest fight following Abdulnabi’s injury to his lower back.
Taylor whose U.S-based corporation, WSC, sponsored the event, said that he was pleased with the conduct.
He promised to be back next year for a bigger event.
Taylor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the future of MMA was bright in Nigeria, saying that the competition added value to sports development in the country.
“I am pleased with what I have seen in the last three days of the competition, where the fighters gave a great account of themselves.
“The majority of the fighters, from a background in kickboxing and wrestling, has used the opportunity to see another and well-advanced event; they definitely learnt a lot.
“We will go back to the drawing board and come back stronger for an event in the future as we desire to stage many events in the country which is a sports hub for Africa,” Taylor said.
