Jackiel Ayana and David Ezekiel emerged as the standout victors at Akalaka 009, tagged “The Battle of the Mystic Sword,” an action-packed night of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and exhibition boxing in Abuja.

Organized by the Akalaka Spirit of the Warrior promotion at the National Council for Arts and Culture, the event featured seven MMA bouts alongside a special boxing exhibition highlighting Nigerian combat talent and cultural heritage.

Ayana, known as the “Smiling Assassin,” claimed the main event by submitting Victor Dooga via a rear-naked choke at 2 minutes and 37 seconds of the featherweight contest. His performance earned him three honors: Best Submission, Best Fighter of the Night, and the coveted Mystic Sword.

In the co-main event, David “The Badger” Ezekiel secured the Best Knockout Artist of the Night title following a technical knockout victory over Joseph James. Meanwhile, Casmir Junior defeated Daniel Appah by tap-out submission in the welterweight division, and Chima-Cole Emmanuel secured a knockout win over Godwin Ambrose in the light heavyweight category.

In the women’s catchweight bout, Beckefula Tarilayefa defeated Blessing Ejike by split decision. Other victories went to Abdulkareen Nasirudeen in the bantamweight class and Michael Dawodu in the featherweight division. Inimfon Ekong also defeated Simon Ameh by split decision in an exhibition boxing match, using her platform to speak out against abuse and promote women’s empowerment.

Convener Dr. Ebere Bernard noted that the promotion, which launched in 2021 in the Niger Delta, continues to draw international interest and digital viewership, with high-profile fight figures such as UFC referee Herb Dean monitoring the event. Executive Producer Idowu Olusayero confirmed that organizers are already preparing for future fight nights in Abuja.