AFC World Series kicks off in Lagos with Raad Aswani leading Africa’s MMA breakthrough

Lagos has become the center of African combat sports as the AFC World Series launches a four-day festival of mixed martial arts (MMA), featuring more than 70 athletes and officially recognised by national and continental federations.

For founder Raad Aswani, it is the fulfillment of a dream to put Africa’s fighters on the global stage.

“The next four days, you’re going to see explosive bouts,” Aswani promised. “We have 72 to 76 athletes registered, including female strawweights, and they are eager to step into the cage. From the fights to the closing ceremony, it’s going to be pure entertainment.”

This is more than a showcase.

The Lagos tournament is the first privately organized promotion in Africa to count toward official MMA rankings, giving Nigerian athletes a direct route from the amateur level to the professional stage.

Ambassador Henry George, president of the Nigerian Mixed Martial Arts Federation, called it a game-changer. “Through AFC, we now have a structured system called the Road to AFC,” he explained.

“Athletes must fight at least 10 amateur bouts before turning pro. That’s how champions are built safely — and now Africa has that structure.”The event has already caught the eye of international organizations, including the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Several fighters with AFC roots are now competing abroad, proof of the pathway Aswani has worked to create.

UFC star Sodiq Yusuf, who is in Lagos to support the competition, stressed the importance of building opportunities at home.

“Nigeria has so much raw talent,” he said. “With platforms like this, fighters won’t have to leave the country to go pro. They can rise from Nigeria to the world.”

For Aswani, however, the vision goes beyond the cage. AFC programs are designed to create “complete athletes” — opening opportunities for women, building safe community gyms, and preparing fighters for life beyond competition.

As medals are set to be awarded by Nigeria’s top sports leaders at the closing ceremony, the message is clear: Africa has arrived on the global MMA map, and Lagos is where the journey