The Velodrome in Abuja roared with excitement as SuperFight 03 brought the vibrant Dambe Warriors League to life.

Tourists from across Nigeria, alongside thousands of local residents, filled the refurbished stadium to witness Nigeria’s traditional martial arts and cultural heritage in action.

Six fighters battled and won promotion into the Dambe Warriors League for the next season, while three other warriors were crowned champions of Season 03.

Speaking during the competition in Abuja, the co-founder of Dambe Warriors, Chidi Aninya, said: “My partners and I started this League with a dream in mind: to unite Nigeria around our traditions, arts, and culture.

“We want to improve the lives of Nigerians in many communities, driving tourism and commerce, and we can accomplish that through Dambe Warriors. Plus, it’s the most exciting combat sport in the world!

“We could not be prouder of SuperFight 03, an event that honoured this 1,000-year-old heritage. Everyone did Nigeria proud tonight – from the organisers, to the warriors, to the fans.”

The sellout crowd included representatives from the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy and the Federal Ministry of Tourism, which have each formally endorsed Dambe Warriors.

In the Lightweight division, KADDARA and DAGE fought bravely and earned their place among the professional warriors in Season 04 of Dambe Warriors League. Each fighter won by way of decision after the conclusion of their bouts.

Lastly, in what was arguably one of the most exciting fights of the evening, the two Lightweight championship contenders, MAGE and NASSAWAWA, battled furiously and patriotically. But, in the end, YAR MAGE was crowned the winner and rightfully earned the title of Champion for the second season in a row.

Among the Middleweights, BIYAR and KANSILA earned their promotion into Season 04 over their opponents KAWOJI and EBOLA, respectively. KANSILA treated the millions watching across the globe to a brutal knockout of his opponent in the FIRST round, which sent the packed house into a frenzy.

In the division’s championship bout, SHAABAN and DOGON MESSI had the crowd on their feet with a high-energy and physical bout. Yet after the dust settled, SHAABAN was left standing with his fists raised in the air in victory while the fans cheered loudly for the great Season 03 Champion.

The titans of the Heavyweight division did not disappoint the nearly 7,000 spectators in attendance. With two Europeans making the trip to try and penetrate the Dambe ecosystem, which has been dominated by Nigerians for centuries, Russian warrior CHERNYSH lost in a nail-biter to native Nigerian MOTA on points in a fight that needed extra time, much to the delight of the crowd.

Meanwhile, the Polish “WHITE MAMBA” MATEUSZ narrowly defeated familiar face DAN YELLOW in an exhibition that had everyone on the edge of their seats. The match turned when the WHITE MAMBA delivered a devastating knee to DAN YELLOW, which he never fully recovered from.

Lastly, but certainly not least, in the final fight of the evening, viral sensation ALI KANIN BELLO (“AKB”) battled #1 ranked YANSANDA for the title of biggest and baddest Dambe Warrior on the planet. In what was a back-and-forth affair, ultimately, YANSANDA proved too strong for his opponent and earned his victory and Heavyweight Championship title. The fans had to be restrained by security as the night ended with national pride and excitement for the future.

SuperFight 03 was a collaborative effort that brought traditional Nigerian art and culture to millions within Nigeria’s borders and across the globe through broadcasts on SuperSport, Trust TV, StarTimes, AIT, YouTube, and Facebook.

In addition to the formal endorsement by the Ministries in attendance at the event, Dambe Warriors League enjoys incredible community support via sponsorships and partnerships that spread far and wide.

The event received strong community support through partnerships with MTN, Bet9ja, Hero Hunter Power Bikes, Infinite Energy Drinks, Hypo, Power Oil, Pop Cola, AIICO, Infinix Mobile, Vaseline, New Crystal Communications, Alpha and Jam, Cloud9, and Concept Fridays.

Combat sports fans, Nigerians abroad, and fight enthusiasts worldwide are encouraged to catch all the Dambe Warriors action for free at www.dambewarriors.com or through the company’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X accounts.