Why is Mixed Martial Arts MMA growing in Africa?

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is gaining ground in Africa and is thought to be one of the fastest-growing sports, with at least 19 African countries registering it as an official national sport.

Globally, MMA is a multi-billion-dollar sport with an estimated more than half a billion followers. The only combat sport watched more is professional wrestling.

African MMA promoters and fighters are optimistic that the sport will produce more stars, such as Nigerian-born Usman Kamaru, Cameroonian-French national Francis Ngannou, and Nigerian-born Israel Adesanya, who are all international champions in MMA.

But the continent is still some distance from this goal, with experts, promoters, and fighters weighing in on what continues to impede the continent from achieving its target to have more home-grown MMA fighters breaking into the international spotlight.

In West Africa, Ghana has been trying to develop martial arts with the development of The Wushu Martial Arts Association of Ghana. Over 20 combatants from various African nations participated in Namibia's first-ever mixed martial arts event last year, held in the nation's capital of Windhoek.

The popularity of Mixed Martial Arts is also growing in South Africa as local fighters compete to establish themselves in the continent and beyond.

The number of female competitors across Africa is also quickly expanding and becoming notable. However, one of the challenges in Africa is a lack of resources to train fighters adequately even though major stakeholders are trying to raise the standards of the game for the continent’s fighters to compete more favorably across the globe.

African MMA fighters are passionate and say they will not give up on their dreams and realize the continent’s potential. Experts say it is only a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if’

#mma #trtafrika #nigeria #southafrica

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