Lagos State, at the weekend, dominated the South West zonal elimination of the National Amateur Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Championships, which featured fighters from all the states in the zone.

More than 50 talented fighters from Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Ondo showcased their prowess in five intense MMA final bouts held according to Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMM) rules.

The Boxing Championship was officiated by the Lagos State Boxing Association (LABA) and saw 12 thrilling bouts.

In the male 70.3kg category, Olabode Fayowole, from Lagos defeated Rasheed Taiwo, from Oyo State, and his teammate, Samuel Gabriel, beat Saheed Faruk from Ogun State in the 61.2kg category, while Musa Jamiyu from Ondo State outclassed Latif Akubee from Oyo State in the 65.6kg category.

Sanni Azeezat from Ogun State triumphed over Olanike Glory, from Ondo State, in the 65kg women’s category, while Quadri Bikilis from Oyo State defeated Ayomide Olorundare from Ogun State in the 56kg women’s category.

In other bouts, Qudus Lateef from Lagos State defeated Bakare Taiwo from Osun State in the 51kg men’s category, just as Akanni Balogun, also from Lagos State, beat David Kushimo, from Ogun State in the 54kg men’s category.

In the women’s category, Akinyemi Asisat from Lagos State defeated Ibrahim Zainab, from Osun State in the first round of the 57kg category.

The first day of the Championship also included an MMA seminar/training for the certification of national judges and referees.

Speaking at the end of the event, Boxing and MMA Hall of Fame Representative, Mr. Rayan Fayan, described the tournament as a crucial stage for the southwest states, saying the championship has been held in Abuja for the North Central and North West regions.

Fayan said the southwest championship served as a qualifier for the National and MMA Championship.