ANZA MMA hosted the ninth edition of ANZA Contenders at The Alchemist in Nairobi on 29 October, bringing together emerging stars from East Africa.
The 11-bout event featured young fighters from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, giving them the opportunity to compete and showcase their skills. The evening saw a mix of knockouts, submissions and closely contested bouts.
ANZA Contenders 9 official fight results
Main card
- Flyweight – Main Event: Norman Mondo (KE) defeated Martin Chite (KE) by TKO.
- Featherweight – Co-main Event: Samuel Laurian (KE) defeated Olanya Richard (UG) by submission (Von Flue choke).
- Featherweight: Joshua Ojow (KE) defeated Hamza Fahim (KE) by unanimous decision.
- Welterweight: Asad Abdulkadir (KE) defeated Edwin Ndegwa (KE) by submission (rear-naked choke).
Prelims
- Lightweight: Shadrack Otieno (KE) defeated Muhammad Salim (TZ) by TKO.
- Flyweight: Hassan Jaffar (KE) defeated Simon Okwera (UG) by TKO.
- Featherweight: Alex Njathi (KE) defeated Dickson Mupe (KE) by TKO.
- Lightweight: Zach Chira (KE) defeated Edgar Ngua (KE) by unanimous decision.
- Bantamweight: Martin Mwanza (KE) defeated Ryan Peter (KE) by TKO.
- Strawweight: Abdirahman Swaleh (KE) defeated Kazwenge Kayebe (TZ) by TKO.
- Bantamweight: Jace Ndegwa (KE) defeated Maina Morgan (KE) by TKO.
Kenyan fighters had a strong showing, starting with the flyweight main event where Norman Mondo defeated fellow Kenyan Martin Chite by TKO. Mondo’s victory brought the headline bout to an emphatic close.
In the featherweight co-main event, ANZA fan favourite Samuel Laurian secured a submission win over Uganda’s Olanya Richard using a Von Flue choke. Laurian, known for his aggressive approach to fighting, once again showed why he remains one of the fighters to watch on the local MMA circuit.
Joshua Ojow also came away with a win, defeating Hamza Fahim by unanimous decision in their featherweight contest. Meanwhile, Asad Abdulkadir returned to the competition following some time abroad with a rear-naked choke submission victory over Edwin Ndegwa in the welterweight division.
The preliminary bouts were just as competitive. Shadrack Otieno stopped Tanzania’s Muhammad Salim by TKO in their lightweight contest, while Hassan Jaffar claimed a TKO victory over Uganda’s Simon Okwera. Alex Njathi also secured a stoppage win against Dickson Mupe.
Zach Chira defeated Edgar Ngua by unanimous decision, while Martin Mwanza recorded a TKO win over Ryan Peter in their bantamweight contest. Abdirahman Swaleh stopped Tanzania’s Kazwenge Kayebe in the strawweight division and Jace Ndegwa opened the card with a TKO victory over Maina Morgan.
For ANZA MMA Founder Peng Chen, the Contenders series plays an important role in creating regular competition opportunities and helping fighters prepare for the next stage of their careers. He shares: “Contenders is about building something sustainable for MMA in this region. We want to give fighters regular opportunities to compete, test themselves against quality opposition and develop the experience they need to progress towards professional MMA. Seeing the level of competition, the energy from the crowd and the way the sport is bringing people together shows just how much potential MMA has in East Africa. We are excited for what comes next.”
With 11 bouts on the card and Redsan’s surprise performance adding to the evening’s entertainment, Contenders 9 offered fans a night that extended beyond the competition in the cage. It also reflected ANZA MMA’s continued efforts to attract a wider audience to the sport and create more opportunities for fighters to compete in front of live crowds.
The event also brought together several MMA clubs and training teams from across East Africa. Among those represented were Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy, Chanua Self-Defense, Shadow Strikers, Hardcore Gym, Kenya Wrestling Team, Sharks MMA Academy Mombasa, Arusha Grappling Club, MMA Dar and Gulu MMA Warriors. Their participation reflects the growing network of gyms and training communities supporting the development of MMA talent across the region.
ANZA Contenders 9 was supported by Cheza Cheza, whose continued partnership has helped bring live combat sports to more Kenyan audiences. The event was powered by HustleSasa, with additional support from Acai Oasis, Anyiko PR and other partners.
Following Contenders 9, ANZA MMA is now turning its attention to its next professional fight night, scheduled for Saturday, 5 December 2026, at Village Market in Nairobi. The December event will see professional fighters return to the cage for another night of competition, continuing ANZA’s work to build a platform for African athletes to compete, develop their professional records and gain greater exposure.
Outside the cage, music was also part of the night’s entertainment. DJ Kace kept the crowd entertained throughout the event before Kenyan dancehall star Redsan made a surprise appearance. His performance was a welcome highlight for fans, adding a different dimension to the evening and bringing music lovers and fight fans together at The Alchemist.
The December fight night marks the next chapter in ANZA’s expanding events calendar, building on the momentum of its Contenders series and professional events that have helped establish Kenya as an emerging destination for MMA in the region. Further details, including the professional fight card, ticket information and event announcements, will be released in the coming weeks.
ANZA MMA is East Africa’s leading amateur mixed martial arts promotion, committed to developing local talent and elevating the sport across the region through professionally organised, high-level competitive events.
In 2025, KO Fight Night by ANZA MMA made history by delivering Kenya’s first-ever professionally sanctioned Mixed Martial Arts event, bringing together top professional fighters from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for a landmark night of elite competition and world-class production, setting a new benchmark for Kenyan combat sports.
Through its Contenders series and professional events, ANZA MMA is building a platform for emerging African fighters to develop their skills, compete regularly and progress towards professional careers.
