Latest news with #JulietUkah
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Di Nigerian police officer wey dey eye MMA history
"I be di queen of di cage, mixed martial arts. I don land gidigba - so watch out for me". Juliet Ukah na woman wey like to take charge and face huge challenges. Di Nigerian no only dey dominate for combat sports wey include taekwondo, boxing and kickboxing, but she dey also serve her kontri for her day work as police corporal. Di 26 year old wey enta mixed martial arts (MMA) as reluctant stand-in fighter for 2023, dey about to turn part of history wen di Professional Fighters League (PFL) hold di first show for Africa for Cape Town on Saturday. Ukah go join pipo like di popular 2024 European flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva and middleweight title winner Johnny Eblen for di roaster for one of di most high-profile MMA events wey dem go hold for Africa. Ukah tell BBC Sport Africa say, "I feel like queen and I feel good say I be di first African female fighter wey go dey signed to dey part of di PFL". She add say, "somtin dey wey dem see in me wey make dem need to call me for di team". Making a statement for Nigeria Five years bifor she go start for di MMA, Ukah bin dey gingered to enta di Nigerian Police Force bicos of pipo like long jumper Chioma Ajunwa wey herself be officer and win di kontri dia first eva Olympic gold medal for di 1996 Atlanta Games. All di six times wey she fight for MMA, she don win since di time wen she enta am becos of request by Henry George, wey be di president of di Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation. E call her to replace fighter wey no come for card for Cameroon for April 2023. She get her first knockout for DR Congo last June and now dey ready to face home fighter Ceileigh Niedermayr for strawweight showdown for di Grand Arena. Ukah wen she dey tok about her unbeaten record tok say, "e mean a lot to me. Na joyful somtin to maintaim - e make me very happy so I wan add more". She add say, "She [Niedermayr] also be beta fighter wey get good record. Di crowd go dey for her. But e no move me becos I dey use oda pipo fan do motivation." George know how Ukah dey important as role model for female fighters and believe say her PFL debut go bring out "ogbonge statement" about how MMA dey gro for Nigeria. E say, "e mean soo much to us. Dis go solidify her skills, justify all her sacrifices and confam say true-true she belong for di top. E go open doors for bigger opportunities for her to fit chase her goals for life and give am more recognition for her work". 'Opportunity for fighters dey here' Di PFL start for US for 2017 and don alreadi get circuits for America and Europe togeda wit Middle East and North Africa league. Dem make Cameroon born MMA fighter Francis Ngannou di Chairman for PFL Africa wen dem introduce am last year. E bin join di promotion afta e comot di UFC wia e be heavyweight champion. Di PFL dey known for im tournament format, wey mean say fighters go get chance to advance for regular season, play-offs and championship stages so dem go fit reach finals and compete for title. Loren Mack wey be di promotion senior vice president tok say, "di opportunity dey for fighters here for Africa to train, live and compete here for di biggest global scale wey di continent don eva see wen e come to combat sports". Dem add say, "PFL Africa commitment to di continent of Africa na di biggest commitment for combat sports wey Africa don eva see." PFL chief executive Peter Murray tell BBC Sport Africa wen dem first annouce plans say di promotion go invest for athlete development, coaching and training spaces under Ngannou leadership. South Africa-born Frans Mlambo wey dey for di card for Cape Town don be long time sparring partner wit two time UFC champion Conor McGregor add say talent wey dey wait to dey discovered for di kontri dey "unbelievable". Di first PFL Africa competition go get 24 fighters from 14 African kontris and dia second event go happun for Johannesburg for 9 August. Ukah explain say, "di biggest challenges wey MMA fighters get for Africa na facilities, equipment and sponsors. "PFL don enta di picture. E mean a lot to me bicos now I for start my career. Na ogbonge platform for me to show my talent." Inspiring di next generation Ukah, wey also dey play football and compete for track and field athlete say both her law enforcement and sporting roles fit dey hard. She tok say she dey destined to be fighter as she add say, "I tank God say e gimme strength to manage di two becos e dey help me for hard times. "My career as elite MMA athlete don really help me for police as e concern discipline and self-control. "E dey also help me do well for work." She go join Ditcheva of Manchester wey get perfect 14-fight record to do striking workshop wey dem go teach women for fighting week. Dis na wia PFL dey invite di public make dem learn new skills from pipo wey "dey rep di top of women MMA". Ukah wan own gym and train odas. Her main dream na to teach women di value and disciplime of combat sports. She explain say, "wetin inspire me to get career for combat sports na how dem dey treat women for society and how dem no dey hear women voices. "I dey use my platform to take inspire women to fit train for self-defence and defend demsefs for society. "I believe say wit my ability, I go fit inspire young women to pass wetin dem expect."
IOL News
5 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
PFL Africa weigh-ins done, now time for all-out action in Cape Town
Ready to rumble Juliet Ukah looking strong ahead of her Showase Strawweight bout against Ceileigh Niedermayr. Photo: PFL The stage is set, the smart cage is secure, and the fighters are ready to launch a historic night of fighting in Africa! PFL Africa completed its weigh-ins last night as fans got a glimpse of this epic show that will see the brand's inaugural event rollout tonight at the Grand Arena in Grand West Casino and Entertainment World. In the main event of the PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai: Cape Town card, the PFL Middleweight World Championship is up for grabs, as defending champion Johnny 'Pressure' Eblen (16-0) of the United States faces challenger Spain's Costello 'The Spaniard' Van Steenis (16-3). Eblen weighed in at 185.0 pounds, while Van Steenis weighed in at 184.6 pounds. In the co-headlining bout of the night, undefeated 'Dangerous' Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) of the United Kingdom takes on Sumiko 'Lady Samurai' Inaba (8-1) of Hawaii in a Showcase Women's Flyweight bout. Ditcheva weighed in at 125.4 pounds, while Inaba weighed in at 124.6 pounds.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Nigerian corporal making MMA history for Africa
"I am the queen of the cage, mixed martial arts. I have come to stay - so watch out for me!" Juliet Ukah is a woman who likes to take charge and grapple with huge challenges. As well as excelling at combat sports including taekwondo, boxing and kickboxing, the Nigerian serves her nation in her day job as a police corporal. The 26-year-old, who turned to mixed martial arts (MMA) as a reluctant stand-in fighter in 2023, is about to become a part of history when the Professional Fighters League (PFL) holds its first show in Africa in Cape Town on Saturday. Ukah will join the likes of hugely popular 2024 European flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva and middleweight titlist Johnny Eblen on the bill of one of the most high-profile MMA events ever to be held on the continent. "I feel like a queen and I feel good about being the first African female fighter signed by the PFL," Ukah told BBC Sport Africa. "There is something they see in me that made them need to call me into the team." Making a statement for Nigeria Five years before starting out in MMA, Ukah was inspired to join the Nigeria Police Force by figures including long jumper Chioma Ajunwa, who was herself an officer and won the country's first ever Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Games. All six of her MMA bouts have resulted in wins since Ukah stepped into the unknown after a request by Henry George - now the president of the Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation - to replace an unavailable fighter on a card in Cameroon in April 2023. She earned her first knockout in DR Congo last June and is now ready to face home fighter Ceileigh Niedermayr in a strawweight showdown at the Grand Arena. "It means a lot to me," Ukah said of her unbeaten record. "It's something joyful to maintain - it makes me so happy and I want to add more. "She [Niedermayr] is also a strong fighter with a good record. The crowd are going to be for her, but I don't care because I use people's fans to motivate myself." George knows Ukah's importance as a role model for female fighters and believes her PFL debut represents a "great statement" about the development of MMA in Nigeria. "This means so much to us," he said. "This will solidify her skills, justify all her sacrifices and confirm her that she belongs at the top. "It will open doors for bigger opportunities for her to chase her goals in life and give her more recognition in her job." 'Opportunity for fighters is right here' Founded in the US in 2017, the PFL already has circuits in America and Europe alongside a combined Middle East and North Africa league. Cameroon-born MMA icon Francis Ngannou was made chairman of PFL Africa when it was introduced last year, having joined the promotion after leaving the UFC, where he had been heavyweight champion. The PFL is known for its tournament format, giving fighters the chance to advance through regular season, play-offs and championship stages in pursuit of reaching a final for titles. "The opportunity for fighters is right here in Africa - to train, live and compete here on the biggest global scale that the continent has ever seen in terms of combat sports," said Loren Mack, the promotion's senior vice president. "PFL Africa's commitment to the continent of Africa is certainly the biggest commitment for combat sport that Africa has ever seen." Speaking to BBC Sport Africa when the plans were first announced, PFL chief executive Peter Murray said the promotion would invest in athlete development, coaching and training spaces under Ngannou's leadership. South Africa-born Frans Mlambo - who is on the card in Cape Town and a long-time sparring partner of two-time UFC champion Conor McGregor - added that the talent waiting to be discovered in the country is "unbelievable". The inaugural PFL Africa tournament will feature 24 fighters from 14 African countries, with their second event taking place in Johannesburg on 9 August. "The biggest challenges MMA fighters face in Africa are facilities, equipment and sponsors," Ukah explained. "PFL has come into the picture. It means a lot to me because now is when I start my career. "It's a good platform for me to showcase my talent. Inspiring the next generation Ukah, who has also played football and competed as a track and field athlete, says both her law enforcement and sporting roles can be "quite difficult". "I thank God for giving me the strength to manage both, because it helps [me] at difficult times," she reflects, adding that she was "destined" to be a fighter. "My career as an elite MMA athlete has really helped me in the police in aspects of discipline, self-control. "It also [makes] me smart in my job. Both align and give me good ways to excel." She will join Manchester's Ditcheva, who has a perfect 14-fight record, for a striking workshop for women during fight week, with the PFL inviting the public to learn skills from a pair who "represent the pinnacle of women's MMA". Ukah wants to own a gym and train others, with a particular ambition to teach women the value and discipline of combat sports. "What inspired me to have a career in combat sports is how women [are] being treated in society and how women's voices are not heard," she explained. "I'm using my platform to inspire women to be able to train for self-defence [and] defend themselves in society. "I believe, with my ability, I could inspire young women to do more than they expected."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
The Nigerian corporal making MMA history for Africa
"I am the queen of the cage, mixed martial arts. I have come to stay - so watch out for me!"Juliet Ukah is a woman who likes to take charge and grapple with huge challenges. As well as excelling at combat sports including taekwondo, boxing and kickboxing, the Nigerian serves her nation in her day job as a police 26-year-old, who turned to mixed martial arts (MMA) as a reluctant stand-in fighter in 2023, is about to become a part of history when the Professional Fighters League (PFL) holds its first show in Africa in Cape Town on will join the likes of hugely popular 2024 European flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva and middleweight titlist Johnny Eblen on the bill of one of the most high-profile MMA events ever to be held on the continent."I feel like a queen and I feel good about being the first African female fighter signed by the PFL," Ukah told BBC Sport Africa."There is something they see in me that made them need to call me into the team." Making a statement for Nigeria Five years before starting out in MMA, Ukah was inspired to join the Nigeria Police Force by figures including long jumper Chioma Ajunwa, who was herself an officer and won the country's first ever Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta six of her MMA bouts have resulted in wins since Ukah stepped into the unknown after a request by Henry George - now the president of the Nigeria Mixed Martial Arts Federation - to replace an unavailable fighter on a card in Cameroon in April earned her first knockout in DR Congo last June and is now ready to face home fighter Ceileigh Niedermayr in a strawweight showdown at the Grand Arena."It means a lot to me," Ukah said of her unbeaten record."It's something joyful to maintain - it makes me so happy and I want to add more."She [Niedermayr] is also a strong fighter with a good record. The crowd are going to be for her, but I don't care because I use people's fans to motivate myself."George knows Ukah's importance as a role model for female fighters and believes her PFL debut represents a "great statement" about the development of MMA in Nigeria."This means so much to us," he said."This will solidify her skills, justify all her sacrifices and confirm her that she belongs at the top."It will open doors for bigger opportunities for her to chase her goals in life and give her more recognition in her job." 'Opportunity for fighters is right here' Founded in the US in 2017, the PFL already has circuits in America and Europe alongside a combined Middle East and North Africa MMA icon Francis Ngannou was made chairman of PFL Africa when it was introduced last year, having joined the promotion after leaving the UFC, where he had been heavyweight PFL is known for its tournament format, giving fighters the chance to advance through regular season, play-offs and championship stages in pursuit of reaching a final for titles."The opportunity for fighters is right here in Africa - to train, live and compete here on the biggest global scale that the continent has ever seen in terms of combat sports," said Loren Mack, the promotion's senior vice president."PFL Africa's commitment to the continent of Africa is certainly the biggest commitment for combat sport that Africa has ever seen."Speaking to BBC Sport Africa when the plans were first announced, PFL chief executive Peter Murray said the promotion would invest in athlete development, coaching and training spaces under Ngannou's Africa-born Frans Mlambo - who is on the card in Cape Town and a long-time sparring partner of two-time UFC champion Conor McGregor - added that the talent waiting to be discovered in the country is "unbelievable".The inaugural PFL Africa tournament will feature 24 fighters from 14 African countries, with their second event taking place in Johannesburg on 9 August."The biggest challenges MMA fighters face in Africa are facilities, equipment and sponsors," Ukah explained."PFL has come into the picture. It means a lot to me because now is when I start my career."It's a good platform for me to showcase my talent. Inspiring the next generation Ukah, who has also played football and competed as a track and field athlete, says both her law enforcement and sporting roles can be "quite difficult"."I thank God for giving me the strength to manage both, because it helps [me] at difficult times," she reflects, adding that she was "destined" to be a fighter."My career as an elite MMA athlete has really helped me in the police in aspects of discipline, self-control."It also [makes] me smart in my job. Both align and give me good ways to excel."She will join Manchester's Ditcheva, who has a perfect 14-fight record, for a striking workshop for women during fight week, with the PFL inviting the public to learn skills from a pair who "represent the pinnacle of women's MMA".Ukah wants to own a gym and train others, with a particular ambition to teach women the value and discipline of combat sports."What inspired me to have a career in combat sports is how women [are] being treated in society and how women's voices are not heard," she explained."I'm using my platform to inspire women to be able to train for self-defence [and] defend themselves in society."I believe, with my ability, I could inspire young women to do more than they expected."
Qatar Tribune
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Ukah, Niedermayr face off in Kinshasa ahead of historic PFL Africa debut
Tribune News Network Doha The Professional Fighters League (PFL) held an open workout ahead of the debut of the inaugural season of PFL Africa, which is set to take place on Saturday, July 19th at the Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town, South Africa. The open workout took place at the Champions Academy RDC Gym in Kinshasa, Congo, and featured Nigeria's Juliet Ukah and South Africa's Ceileigh Niedermayr. The two PFL Africa stars will face off in a Showcase Women's Strawweight bout at PFL Cape Town. In front of the fans and media in attendance, Ukah and Niedermayr showcased their skills in a public training session before facing off for the first time ahead of their highly anticipated showdown. Tickets for the event are on sale now via Ticketpro. Juliet Ukah said: 'I'm very happy to be on the first PFL Africa card, and my fight with Ceileigh is going to be an exciting one. We're going to be representing the two biggest MMA nations in Africa, and we want to help put African MMA in the global spotlight. Compared to her, I think I'm the more experienced fighter and the better striker, so I'm comfortable wherever the fight goes. I expect to get the finish, but I don't mind going to a third round if needed. 'Ceileigh, let's bring out the best in each other and show the world how well African women can fight!' Ceileigh Niedermayr said: 'It's truly an honor to be part of the first-ever women's fight in PFL Africa. This fight camp isn't just about preparing for my next opponent — it's a reflection of my lifelong dedication to martial arts. I'm always pushing myself to grow, to evolve, and to become the best fighter I can be. 'On fight night, I'm bringing a new level of Smiley Savagery to the SmartCage. I have a lot of respect for Juliet as a fighter, and I welcome the chance to test myself against her, but I don't think she's ever faced anyone like me. I'm expecting an exciting, high-level battle — and I'm ready for it.' The historic PFL Cape Town event will kick off the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament, featuring First Round matchups in the Heavyweight and Bantamweight divisions. The event will also be headlined by five must-see PFL Champions Series bouts, including a Middleweight World Championship main event between titleholder Johnny 'Pressure' Eblen (16-0) and challenger Costello 'The Spaniard' van Steenis (16-3).
