African MMA athletes welcome league launch

STORY: MMA fighting is expanding its reach in Africa.

The Professional Fighters League has officially launched its Mixed Martial Arts African competition in Lagos, Nigeria, after its network expansion into Europe and the Middle East.

The league’s CEO Peter Murray, said plans are in place to ramp up training facilities in Africa, as well as championship seasons.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) CEO, PFL, PETER MURRAY, SAYING:

‘’Why now? It’s number one, incredible athlete talents throughout not only here in Nigeria, but throughout the continent, and they deserve their own league to compete on major media platforms, and the ability to become champions here on Africa with events staged in Africa but also distributed around the world.’’

The African league will offer fighters a chance to win as much as one million dollars.

Boxing coach Bakare Akinwunmi called it life-changing:

(SOUNDBITE) (English) BOXING COACH, BAKARE AKINWUNMI, SAYING:

‘’This is a dream come true for me personally as a coach. So it is going to help in the area of training people, training young ones and know that the training is not just for fun, the training is a pathway to a career to something greater, something that can change the young ones life.’’

Ankinwunmi has trained athletes who went on to compete outside of Nigeria. But now, such athletes have a chance of being knock-out champions on home soil.