In an interview with Sports247, President Henry George of the Nigerian Martial Arts Federation expressed confidence in MMA’s future inclusion in the All African Games, citing its growing popularity among fans. He affirmed, “MMA has gone mainstream.Everyone wants to see MMA. People want to watch MMA. People want to know who is the champion in any country, who is the best fighter in Africa and all that.”
Reflecting on the achievements at the current All African Games, President George emphasized the importance of continued work and motivation for MMA athletes. He noted, “A lot of fighters are really inspired by seeing what people do… So it’s going to be really competitive. And this is what we, as a federation, want to demonstrate. And we have achieved this.”
President George, drawing from his own experience as a former karate world champion, acknowledged the need for improvement in certain areas. He stressed the importance of pragmatism and collaboration with sponsors to further develop the sport. “All we need is the cooperation of sponsors to come in, because the government alone cannot do it… We need more sponsors to come so that we’ll be able to put these athletes together and have the best team for Nigeria,” he explained, highlighting the role of sponsorship in supporting athletes and ensuring Nigeria’s competitiveness on the international stage.
President George’s insights underscore the federation’s commitment to advancing MMA in Nigeria and its aspirations for continued success in future competitions.
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