^{Two of Kenya’s top mixed martial arts  (MMA) athletes, Ouhsummer Ali Abad, known as “Ninja Turtle” and George “The Maverick” Itumo — have officially signed with AFRICAN KNOCKOUT (AKO).}

^{The duo will make their highly anticipated debut on June 13, 2025, at 6 PM at the Pistis Conference Center in Lagos, Nigeria.}

AKO, Africa’s leading mixed martial arts promotion co-owned by Nigerian UFC legend Kamaru Usman, stands as the continent’s premier MMA platform, captivating audiences across Africa and beyond.

The upcoming debut of Ouhsummer Ali Abad and George Itumo marks a major milestone for Kenyan and East African combat sports.

With all formalities now complete, both fighters are currently in intensive training camp in Nairobi, preparing for their highly anticipated AKO debut.

Ouhsummer Ali Abad says, “Signing with AKO is a great opportunity to show Africa and the world the level east african MMA reached in the past few years.”

George Itumo adds on their aspiration, “The plan is to dominate the African MMA scene before moving into the biggest world leagues like PFL and UFC.”

This highly anticipated event will showcase 18 fighters from across Africa, also representing countries such as Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo and Egypt — all eager to assert their dominance in the competitive AKO arena.

"AKO9 is more than just an event; it's a bold declaration of the future of African MMA. With unparalleled energy, elite athletes, and top-tier production, we’re not merely putting on a show — we’re igniting a movement,” stated Rayan Fayad, COO of AKO.

Historically, no East African fighter has claimed victory inside the AKO cage — that narrative is about to change. George and Ouhsummer are not just entering the arena to compete; they are poised to make history, representing Kenya and East Africa with pride and aiming to dominate on one of the most prestigious platforms in African MMA.

Kenya’s martial arts scene has seen a remarkable rise in 2025, driven by a dedicated team of fighters from Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy and One Tribe BJJ.

The team has delivered standout performances across Uganda, Egypt, and Qatar. At the AJP Tour Africa Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship held in Cairo in February, Team Kenya emerged as the top-ranked African team, securing an impressive 13 medals — including six golds.

Leading the charge was Ouhsummer Ali Abad, who delivered a dominant performance with double gold.

He continued his winning streak at the AJP World Tour in Qatar in April, clinching back-to-back double victories.

These achievements have propelled him to #7 in the AJP global professional rankings — the highest ever for a Kenyan athlete in the sport.