By Frank Bonada
The 2025 IMMAF Africa Championships heralded a bright future for African MMA, with the level of competition reaching new heights.
Hosted by the Angolan MMA Federation, athletes across the Youth, Junior, Senior, and newly introduced Masters divisions showcased that African MMA now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its European, Asian, and Pan-American counterparts.
Host nation Angola delivered a standout performance, collecting a host of medals and demonstrating a wide range of elite skill sets. Returning Senior Champions Clélio Diogo, Elfran Marques, Nicklas Helander, and Wilson Manuel all added another continental gold medal to their résumés. Marques in particular delivered one of the tournament’s highlight moments, with a spectacular semi-final stoppage over fellow Angolan standout Anderson Gouveia.
In the Junior divisions, Angola captured seven gold medals, with standout performances from Ricardo Pireza and Milfa Kuenda Nicolau.
In the Youth categories, 16 Angolan champions were crowned. 2024 IMMAF Youth World Champion Mayra Lemos continued her dominant form, while Gisela Luna and Claudio Fontoura announced themselves as names to watch ahead of this year’s Youth Worlds.
The Masters divisions made their long awaited IMMAF debut, with Francisco Macabe becoming the inaugural champion. Facing countryman Esmael Vemba, Macabe showcased flawless submission grappling, finishing the bout with a textbook armbar.
Macabe wasn’t the only Masters athlete to medal in Luanda. South Africa Federation Team Coach and board member William Oberholzer also stepped into the IMMAF Fighting Area, taking on Angola’s Joao Inacio Da Silva. Oberholzer claimed victory in style, securing a first-round submission and capping off a strong tournament for Team South Africa.
Former Junior Africa Champion JJ Karagiannidis led the South African charge in the Senior division, delivering two show-stopping performances en route to the final. There, he faced the aforementioned Clélio Diogo in what became one of the most thrilling back-and-forth bouts in IMMAF Africa Championship history.
JJ was not the only representative of the Karagiannidis family at the event, with his younger sister Caitey Karagiannidis securing gold in the Youth A divisions. Teammates Caleb Swart and Caiden Bouwer also struck gold, rounding off a solid campaign for South Africa.
Despite entering with a relatively small squad of just 13 athletes, DR Congo delivered a stunning performance, returning home with 10 medals, six of them gold. Magloire Mutabi produced a highlight reel finish in the semi-finals, while Ken Saleh and Jeremie Likobele lived up to their growing reputations. Following in the footsteps of African pro MMA pioneer Eliezer Kubanza, DR Congo’s rise looks set to continue on the international stage.
Cameroon also impressed, with Gaston Boyomo, Wilfried Mbiateu, and Manuella Nkeunda each securing gold. The Central African nation ended the tournament with 13 medals across all divisions.
For Zambia, Miracle Chipito lived up to her name by claiming her nation’s sole gold medal. Strong performances from Tryford Mwaanga and Killian Lungu also signaled Zambia’s growing strength in the sport.
Namibia made its mark as well, with Baghdad Muundjua’s championship-winning run standing out among the highlights.
Team Mauritius brought a four-athlete delegation, with Aveer Jootun earning gold in the Youth B 72 kg category.
While Nigeria and Algeria didn’t reach the top of the podium, both nations claimed a spot on the Jr./Sr. Medal Table, contributing to an increasingly competitive continental field.
As African MMA continues to evolve, the 2025 Africa Championships proved the continent’s emergence as a global force. With eyes now turning to the upcoming Youth World Championships and Senior World Championships, Africa’s finest are ready to take on the world’s elite from Europe, Asia, and Pan America.
