On August 23, 2025, the Velodrome in Abuja was set ablaze as African Knockout (AKO10) brought together fighters from nine African nations. But for the Nigerian crowd, the night belonged to one man: Yahaya Mohammed Yahuza.

The 24 -year-old middleweight extended his unbeaten streak to 7–0, cementing himself as one of Nigeria’s brightest stars in MMA.

Yahuza didn’t just win; he dominated Benin’s Cherif Drame from bell to bell, slamming and controlling him with trademark force. “Yahuza doesn’t wrestle — he dominates,” one fan shouted as the Abuja-based fighter imposed his will inside the cage.

Fighting Through Pain
Yahuza’s performance was made even more remarkable by what he endured. Weeks before the fight, he revealed he had torn his groin in training: “I couldn’t walk for four days,” he admitted. Then, in the opening round in front of his home crowd, disaster struck again — the same injury resurfaced.

In his own words, “I almost gave up.” But quitting is not in Yahuza’s vocabulary. Instead, he bit down on his mouth guard and powered through, using sheer determination and strength to dominate Drame for three rounds. The unanimous decision was inevitable, but the true victory was his resilience.

The Nigerian Banner
While Yahuza’s victory was the defining Nigerian highlight, the night also marked major strides for the country’s MMA scene.

• Jane Osigwe went five rounds for the first time in her career, defeating Morocco’s Mandar Sanaa to win the interim bantamweight title. Her triumph carried personal weight — Jane’s mother still hawks on the streets, and the new champion openly hopes to retire her after this fight.
• Joy Obanla added her name to the list of rising Nigerian stars, delivering a knockout against Nelson Ufot in an all-Nigerian women’s bantamweight clash.

Together, these performances underscored that Nigerian MMA is not only producing winners, but fighters with stories that connect deeply to the people.

The Face of Nigeria’s MMA Future
Among them all, Yahuza stands out as the symbol of Nigeria’s MMA future. A national gold medalist in wrestling, his transition into professional MMA has been seamless — but it’s not just about his physical dominance. His ability to push through pain, to fight even when his body screamed to stop, and to do it in front of his people in Abuja, makes him more than just a fighter. He’s a standard bearer.

At AKO10, Yahuza showed that unbeaten records aren’t built on talent alone. They’re forged in grit, in willpower, and in the refusal to give up. Nigeria has a new MMA hero, and his name is Yahaya Mohammed Yahuza.