Bayelsa Set for National MMA Talent Showcase

Posted : 08 October 2026

Bayelsa State is set to become the centre of Nigerian Mixed Martial Arts as the 2nd Sunday Dare Open National MMA Championship takes place from Oct. 14 to 18.

The five-day championship is being organised by the Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation (NMMAF) in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Sports Council, with the state serving as host.

The competition is expected to attract Mixed Martial Artists, coaches, technical officials and other stakeholders from different parts of the country.

Beyond the battle for medals, the championship is expected to provide an avenue for athletes to sharpen their skills, identify emerging talents and gain valuable competitive experience.

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, is among the dignitaries expected at the event.

Also expected are Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, and the state’s Commissioner for Sports Development, Daniel Igali.

Dare, whose name the championship bears, is expected to interact with participants and encourage young athletes seeking to build professional careers in Mixed Martial Arts.

As host governor, Diri is expected to welcome the athletes and officials while providing the necessary support for a successful championship in the state.

Igali, an accomplished athlete and sports administrator, is also expected to contribute to the successful staging of the competition as the state’s Commissioner for Sports Development.

Athletes will compete across various weight categories, with participants expected from different parts of Nigeria.

The NMMAF said the competition would also support its broader objective of strengthening the sport’s domestic structure through regular competitions, talent identification and athlete development.

With quality technical officiating and competitive bouts expected, the championship could provide a valuable platform for promising fighters to attract attention and measure themselves against some of the country’s emerging talents.

The Bayelsa edition will also provide an opportunity to increase the visibility of Mixed Martial Arts while encouraging young Nigerians to explore the sport as a pathway for competition and career development.

As athletes converge on Bayelsa, the NMMAF and the state’s sports authorities will be seeking to deliver a championship capable of strengthening the foundation for the continued growth of Mixed Martial Arts in Nigeria.

Bayelsa Set for National MMA Talent Showcase

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