April 27, 2026 (Agency Report)
Michael Dawodu delivered one of the standout performances of the night as he powered to victory alongside other top fighters at the Akalaka Spirit of the Warrior Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event in Abuja.
The thrilling fight night, tagged “Battle of Gwarinpa,” saw 16 fighters light up the cage at the 21 Arena, National Council for Arts and Culture, with contests across featherweight, bantamweight, lightweight and strawweight divisions.
Dawodu emerged as one of the biggest winners of the night, stopping Destiny Ekpo via second-round technical knockout (TKO) in the men’s 66kg featherweight category. His composed yet explosive display drew loud cheers from fans, underlining his growing reputation as a force in the division.
In the headline bout, Emmanuel “Knockout Machine” Benard capped the night with a commanding victory over Yakubu “Black Scorpion” Solomon, winning by unanimous decision after three gruelling rounds in the men’s -61kg bantamweight division. The clash was widely adjudged the best fight of the night, earning Benard the best male fighter award.
“I stayed focused and trusted my training. My opponent was strong, but strategy made the difference,” Benard said after the bout.
He dedicated the win to his coach and supporters who travelled from Lagos.
“I appreciate everyone who came out to support me. This victory is for them,” he added.
In the co-main event, Victoria “The Hunter” Uduak stamped her authority in the women’s category, stopping Blessing “Chibok Girl” Shettima by first-round TKO in the 65kg featherweight division to claim the best female fighter award.
Other notable winners also made strong statements on the night. Nasirudeen Abdulkareem dispatched Sunday George with a first-round TKO in the bantamweight category, while Balikis Quadri secured a submission victory over Cynthia Philips with a rear naked choke in round two of the women’s strawweight bout.
Christopher Swande impressed with a clinical triangle choke submission over Cornelius Godpower, and Peter Onuh wasted no time in stopping Goodluck Opara via first-round TKO in their featherweight clash.
Joseph James and David Ezekiel, however, settled for a draw after an evenly matched lightweight contest, both scoring 74 points.
President of Akalaka Spirit of the Warrior, Dr. Ebere Benard, said the event was designed to harness youth potential and promote discipline through sport.
“We are using MMA as a tool to redirect young people from social vices and channel their energy into productive ventures,” he said.
“This initiative continues to grow, giving fighters exposure and opportunities to compete at higher levels.”
He stressed that martial arts go beyond competition, urging young people to embrace its core values.
“Beyond the cage, martial arts teach discipline, respect and control, values urgently needed in our society,” he said.
“The greatest victory is not over an opponent, but over anger, chaos and hatred within ourselves.”
Chief Executive Officer of Option A International, Idowu Olusareyo, commended the organisers for sustaining grassroots development.
“There is huge talent in Nigeria. Supporting events like this gives young fighters the exposure they need to succeed,” he said.
Also speaking, Abubakar Marwa of Marwa Self Defence praised the organisation and excitement generated by the event, describing it as a major boost for MMA in Abuja.
The event also featured a major recognition moment as Dr. Benard was awarded a 7th degree black belt by the World Jidokwan Federation President from Korea, honouring over three decades of contribution to martial arts, youth development and global peace advocacy.
