George “The Maverick” Itumo, Daniela Mandanji, Kevin Odongo and Tsinjo Rakotomoria were among the standout winners as ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 delivered eight professional fights and eight first-round finishes in Nairobi on Saturday, September 19.
Itumo closed out the night in spectacular fashion, submitting Angola’s Jorge Correia by armbar in the bantamweight main event, while Angola’s Daniela Mandanji made an emphatic professional debut by submitting Uganda’s Rebecca Amongi by rear-naked choke.
The third edition of ANZA MMA Pro Nights brought together fighters from Kenya, Angola, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar and South Sudan, with every bout ending before the second round in a night defined by fast finishes, aggressive exchanges and technical MMA.
Held for the first time on the rooftop of Village MANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 delivers eight first-round finishes in explosive Nairobi fight nightarket, the event marked the biggest professional fight night to date for ANZA MMA, drawing a large audience of fans, fighters, participating gyms, celebrities, media and members of Nairobi’s growing MMA community.
Itumo Closes The Night With An Armbar
Kenya’s George “The Maverick” Itumo delivered one of the evening’s defining performances, defeating Angola’s Jorge Correia by armbar in the bantamweight main event.
With the home crowd behind him, Itumo secured the technical submission to bring the eight-fight card to a decisive conclusion. His performance also earned him Submission of the Night honors.
The result capped a card in which every professional bout ended in the opening round.
Mandanji Makes Statement In Professional Debut
One of the most anticipated moments of the evening was the professional debut of Angola’s Daniela Mandanji.
The former World Champion and four-time Angolan National Champion wasted little time making her mark, submitting Uganda’s Rebecca Amongi by rear-naked choke in their flyweight contest.
Mandanji entered the professional ranks with an impressive amateur résumé, including a gold medal at the 2025 IMMAF Amateur World Championships.
Her debut added another international storyline to a card that featured fighters from six African nations.
Eight fights, eight first-round finishes
The pace was relentless from the opening bout, with all eight professional contests ending inside the first round.
ANZA MMA Pro Nights 3 — Official Results
• George Itumo (Kenya) defeated Jorge Correia (Angola) — Bantamweight
Submission — Armbar
• Rashid Mlegelo (Tanzania) defeated Kennedy Serunyange (Uganda) — Featherweight
TKO
• Brian Munyi (Kenya) defeated Cyplian Katumba (Uganda) — Featherweight
TKO
• Kevin Odongo (Kenya) defeated Kasozi Umaru (Uganda) — Heavyweight
TKO
• Alhassan Mosala (South Sudan) defeated Michael Olara (Uganda) — Middleweight
TKO
• Tsinjo Rakotomoria (Madagascar) defeated Lawrence Mukiibi (Uganda) — Lightweight
TKO
• Daniela Mandanji (Angola) defeated Rebecca Amongi (Uganda) — Flyweight
Submission — Rear-Naked Choke
• Chris Tibenda (Tanzania) defeated Farouk Ogwal (Uganda) — Flyweight
Submission — Rear-Naked Choke
Standout performances honoured
ANZA MMA also recognised three standout performances from the card:
• Fight of the Night: Tsinjo Rakotomoria (Madagascar)
• KO of the Night: Kevin Odongo (Kenya)
• Submission of the Night: George Itumo (Kenya)
The awards highlighted the range of finishes across the card, from quick stoppages to technical submissions.
Demarte Pena Brings International Experience
The event also welcomed Angola’s Demarte Pena “The Wolf”, the former EFC World Champion and ARES World Champion, as a special guest and referee.
Pena is regarded as one of the pioneering figures in African MMA and remains an influential presence in the sport across the continent.
His involvement added further international experience to an event built around showcasing African professional MMA talent.
The live event and broadcast, which was also livestreamed on YouTube for audiences beyond Kenya, featured commentary from Alex Holi, Joe De Bestt and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Julio DeSouza.
ANZA MMA Announces Championship Belts for December
During the event, ANZA MMA founder Peng Chen reflected on the promotion’s growth before announcing another milestone for the professional series: the introduction of official ANZA MMA championship belts.
The belts are expected to debut at the promotion’s next planned Pro Fight Night in December.
“Tonight is another important step for ANZA MMA and for the growth of professional MMA in Africa. We are building a platform where fighters can compete, develop and be seen, and the introduction of our branded belts is another step in building the identity and legacy of the Pro Fight Nights. We look forward to bringing them to the cage at our next event in December,” said Peng Chen.
The announcement comes as ANZA MMA continues to develop its professional and amateur competition structure, with the promotion seeking to create more opportunities for fighters from across the continent.
By: Duncan Mutua
