.Dare, Governor Diri, Igali expected to grace championship

The Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NMMAF) is set to host the 2nd Sunday Dare Open National MMA Championship in Bayelsa State, bringing together some of the country’s finest Mixed Martial Arts athletes, coaches, officials and stakeholders. The tournament runs from 14 to 18 October 2026.

The championship represents another major milestone in the structured development of Mixed Martial Arts in Nigeria and reinforces the Federation’s commitment to creating a sustainable pathway for athlete development, talent identification and international representation.

The prestigious championship is expected to attract distinguished personalities, including Sunday Dare, former Minister of Youth and Sports Development; His Excellency Senator Douye Diri, Executive Governor of Bayelsa State; and Daniel Igali, Olympic Champion and prominent Nigerian sports administrator.

Their expected presence reflects the increasing recognition of Mixed Martial Arts as an emerging and important sport within Nigeria’s sporting landscape.

According to the federation’s technical leadership, the championship is much more than a competitive event.

It is designed to provide a structured platform for talent identification and athlete development, national athlete ranking, technical assessment and development. It is also meant to engender coach and official development, improved competition standards, athlete safety and professionalism, preparation for national and international competitions and identification of future Team Nigeria athletes.

The championship features 32 weight categories, providing athletes from across the country with opportunities to compete at a high national level.

The event also carries significant importance within the Federation’s athlete-ranking and selection framework, making performance at the championship an important component of the pathway toward future national and international opportunities.

Speaking from the perspective of the Federation’s technical leadership, Shihan (Pharm.) Victor Akhimien, Technical Director/Chairman, Technical Committee, Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NMMAF), emphasized the importance of establishing a consistent and credible competition structure for Nigerian athletes.

“Our objective is not simply to produce winners at individual competitions. We are building a system capable of consistently producing world-class Nigerian athletes.”»

He further noted that the development of Nigerian MMA requires a combination of regular high-level competition, competent coaching, qualified officials, athlete welfare, technical education, proper ranking systems and exposure to international standards.

The Sunday Dare Open National MMA Championship is therefore positioned as an important part of that long-term development strategy.