Itumo headlines ANZA MMA PRO Nights 3 as six nations descend in Nairobi

Kenyan bantamweight star George Itumo will headline ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 when the continent’s top mixed martial arts talent converges at Nairobi’s Village Market on September 19 for an international showcase featuring fighters from six African nations.

The highly anticipated event will bring together athletes from Kenya, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Sudan in eight bouts spread across the main and preliminary cards, further cementing Nairobi’s growing reputation as a regional hub for mixed martial arts.

At the centre of the action will be Itumo, who faces Angola’s Jorge Correia in a crucial bantamweight contest. The Kenyan will be eager to capitalize on home support while seeking redemption against Angolan opposition, having suffered the only defeat of his professional career against a fighter from the Southern African nation.

ANZA MMA Pro Nights has steadily grown into one of the continent’s most exciting combat sports platforms, blending elite competition with entertainment and culture. The promotion has attracted growing crowds and continues to draw attention from athletes, musicians, celebrities and sports enthusiasts who view the events as more than just fight nights.

Joining Itumo on the main card are Kenyan fan favourites Brian Munyi and Kevin Odongo, both of whom earned widespread acclaim following standout performances at ANZA Pro 002. Munyi announced himself as one of the promotion’s brightest prospects after producing a spectacular knockout that earned him the KO of the Night award.

Odongo, popularly known as the “King of TKO,” also enters the event with momentum after stopping a formidable 116-kilogram Congolese heavyweight in the closing moments of the third round during a dramatic contest that earned Fight of the Night honours.

Munyi will face Uganda’s Cyplian Katumba in a featherweight clash while Odongo takes on fellow Ugandan Kasozi Umaru in a heavyweight showdown. Another compelling main-card encounter will see Tanzania’s Rashid Mlegelo battle Uganda’s Kennedy Serunyange in the featherweight division, adding to the event’s strong regional rivalry narrative.

The preliminary card promises its own share of excitement. South Sudan’s Alhassan Mosala will square off against Uganda’s Michael Olara in a middleweight contest, while Uganda’s Lawrence Mukiibi takes on Madagascar’s Tsinjo Rakotomaria in the lightweight division. Tanzanian Chris Tibenda will also meet Uganda’s Farouk Ogwal in a flyweight bout.

One of the most anticipated appearances of the evening will come from Angola’s Daniela Mandanji, the Amateur MMA World Champion, who is set to make her professional debut against Uganda’s Rebecca Amongi. Mandanji arrives in Nairobi carrying an impressive amateur résumé and considerable expectations, with many eager to see how her success translates into the professional ranks.

Beyond the competition inside the cage, ANZA MMA Pro Nights continues to reflect the growing intersection between sport, entertainment and culture in Nairobi. Previous editions have attracted prominent entertainers including Bien, Savara, Boutross and Nvirrii, highlighting MMA’s expanding appeal beyond traditional combat sports audiences.

The sport has also gained additional visibility through international collaborations and media appearances, helping introduce a wider audience to Kenya’s rapidly developing MMA scene.

The event will also feature Mosala, who recently appeared in a music video linked to Nigerian star Yemi Alade’s engagement with Nairobi’s martial arts community, underscoring the increasingly close relationship between combat sports and popular culture in the city.

With international rivalries, rising stars, championship calibre talent and the professional debut of a world champion all on one card, ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 is shaping up to be one of the biggest nights of African mixed martial arts this year.

Fans can expect an evening of explosive finishes, intense competition and a celebration of the sport’s continued growth across the continent as Nairobi once again takes centre stage in African MMA