Have you ever crossed something off a bucket list that never existed in the first place? That was me on November 6th, attending the Anza KO Fight Nights at The Alchemist in Westlands. Fight nights are one of those adrenaline-inducing experiences you never quite think you’d be a fan of until you try it.
Walking into the venue felt like stepping onto the set of WWE, except this wasn’t scripted entertainment, but the real thing. And to think there’s a whole thriving MMA fan base right here in Nairobi? Who’d have thought!
Watching an MMA fight sends all sorts of emotions coursing through you. One minute you’re thinking, “Is this legal? Should there be adult supervision?” (Never mind that these are fully grown adults who’ve chosen this life, but still). Next, you’re marveling at the magnificent technique on display. All while holding your breath, hoping they’re not hurting each other that much, though that would be short-changing the fans who came for the messy part, the gore, and the drama of it all.
What struck me most was how the movements felt like art. Whether it was the jab, the uppercut, the cross, the kick, or even watching fighters grapple their opponents into submission (yes, I did learn quite a few msamiatis that night), the fluidity of these athletes was unforgettable. And the KO (which was a very clever insert by Kenya Originals as part of the event branding) or a submission became the exclamation point on each decisive finish.
Of the eight fights on the card, only one went the full three rounds to the judges’ scorecards. Every other bout ended in spectacular knockouts or submissions, keeping the energy electric throughout the evening. The crowd came for action, and the fighters delivered.
Fan favorite Hassan Wasswa Muhammed of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy headlined the night, facing the disciplined Franklin Kimani from the Kenya Defence Forces. Hassan’s composed performance culminated in a second-round TKO via ground and pound, which really was a masterclass in control and finishing instinct.
The co-main event featured Samuel Laurian of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy facing off against Shadrack Otieno of Marine Gym in a thrilling three-round battle, marking a rematch of their October clash in Mombasa. Meanwhile, Rymond Wenendeya from Kampala Grappling Club left the crowd buzzing with a first-round submission victory, executing a beautiful Darce choke that had the technical fans nodding in appreciation.
Chanuka Self Defense gym had a particularly stellar night. Their fighters, Victor Kiprop and Dennis Nyingi, both finished their opponents early, bringing the gym’s undefeated record at Anza events to an impressive 5-0.
The way the fans behaved added a whole other dimension to the experience. It felt like being transported to those ancient Roman arenas, in the Colosseum, perhaps, or the blood-soaked sands where Spartacus once fought. The roar of the crowd when a fighter landed a clean strike, the collective gasp at a near-submission, the eruption when the referee waved off a fight was primal and utterly captivating. You forget sometimes that combat sports tap into something ancient in us, something that thrills at watching skilled warriors test themselves against each other. The crowd wasn’t just watching. They were part of it, feeding energy back to the fighters, creating this feedback loop of intensity. But I digress.
Adding even more significance to the evening was the presence of David Hirschbein, a UFC manager and owner of California’s acclaimed MMA Gold Team, which currently has eight fighters on the UFC roster. Hirschbein’s visit to Nairobi signals that the world is paying attention to East African MMA.
Before the fights, he conducted a seminar on fighter management at the newly opened Açaí Oasis in New Muthaiga Mall, sharing insights with local managers and athletes. He also visited MMA Gold’s youth talent development project in Kibera, where young fighters train under experienced instructors, serving a beautiful reminder that this sport is building futures, not just entertaining crowds.
If I had one critique, it would be the venue constraints. More seating, or better yet, elevated or tiered seating, would ensure everyone gets a clear view without having to fight for space themselves (ironic, I know, considering the context). The intimacy of The Alchemist worked in some ways, but as this sport grows, so too must the infrastructure around it. The event was sanctioned by the Kenya Oriental Combat Sports Federation (KOCSF) and supported by Kenya Originals, whose efforts continue to nurture MMA and combat sports across the region. From thrilling amateur bouts to attracting top international attention, Anza MMA is elevating mixed martial arts in East Africa and creating pathways for local fighters to reach the global stage.
And the momentum isn’t stopping because on December 5th, Broadwalk Mall, Westlands, will host Kenya’s first-ever officially sanctioned professional MMA event. The card features East African MMA royalty, including Ouhsummer Ali Abad of Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy and George Itumo of One Tribe BJJ.
This is one of those experiences you need to have at least once in your lifetime, the kind that sneaks onto your bucket list only after you’ve already checked it off. The energy and the community have to be a thing of beauty.
But let me not be the one to tell you, see you at the next one!
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