Kenyan fighters shine at Cheza Cheza Anza Contenders 9 fiesta

Kenyan mixed martial arts fighters dominated the ninth edition of CHEZA CHEZA ANZA Contenders, sweeping all 11 bouts against opponents from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in an impressive display of skill, resilience and competitive spirit at The Alchemist in Nairobi.

The event provided a platform for emerging fighters from across East Africa to test their abilities, with the action-packed fight card delivering a series of technical knockouts, submissions and closely contested decisions.

Flyweight Norman Mondo headlined the evening, stopping fellow Kenyan Martin Chite by technical knockout to claim victory in the main event. In the featherweight co-main event, fan favourite Samuel Laurian continued his impressive run, submitting Uganda's Olanya Richard with a Von Flue choke to secure another emphatic victory.

Joshua Ojow also registered a featherweight win, defeating Hamza Fahim by unanimous decision, while Asad Abdulkadir marked his return to competition following a stint abroad with a rear-naked choke submission victory over Edwin Ndegwa in the welterweight division.

The preliminary card maintained the intensity, with Shadrack Otieno stopping Tanzania's Muhammad Salim by technical knockout in their lightweight contest.

Hassan Jaffar also secured a TKO victory over Uganda's Simon Okwera, while Alex Njathi overcame Dickson Mupe through a stoppage in the featherweight division.

Zach Chira earned a unanimous decision victory over Edgar Ngua in a lightweight encounter, while Martin Mwanza stopped Ryan Peter by TKO in the bantamweight category.

Abdirahman Swaleh delivered another stoppage victory against Tanzania's Kazwenge Kayebe in the strawweight division, before Jace Ndegwa closed the card with a TKO win over Maina Morgan.

The 11-fight showcase brought together several MMA clubs and training teams from across the region, including 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.

ANZA MMA Founder Peng Chen says the Contenders series is designed to provide fighters with consistent competition opportunities, helping them sharpen their skills, gain valuable experience and prepare for progression into professional mixed martial arts.

He noted that the growing quality of competition and increasing interest from fans demonstrate the sport's potential across East Africa, with ANZA committed to building a sustainable platform for regional talent. The ninth edition was supported by Cheza Cheza

Following the successful conclusion of Contenders 9, CHEZACHEZA ANZA MMA is now preparing for its next professional fight night scheduled for December 5, 2026, at Village Market in Nairobi.

The event will bring professional fighters back into the cage as the organisation continues to expand opportunities for African athletes to develop their professional records and gain exposure on the international MMA circuit.