Igali Receives Tournament Kits as MMA Officials Arrive in Yenagoa for National Championship
…As Bayelsa Prepares to Host Second Dare National Open Championship
The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, has received the official tournament kits for the second Dare National Open Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Championship as officials of the Mixed Martial Arts Federation of Nigeria arrive in Yenagoa ahead of the competition.
The championship, sponsored by the Bayelsa State Government in partnership with the Mixed Martial Arts Federation of Nigeria, is scheduled to hold from October 14 to 18, 2026, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The presentation of the tournament jerseys to Igali was made on Wednesday in his office by the President of the Mixed Martial Arts Federation of Nigeria, Ambassador Henry George, as part of activities marking preparations for the championship.
Receiving the kits, Igali expressed the state’s readiness to welcome athletes, officials and other stakeholders from across the country. He noted that the competition would further strengthen Bayelsa’s reputation as a destination for major national sporting events.
He added that hosting the championship represented another milestone in the state’s growing record of national sporting competitions, reflecting the commitment of the Prosperity Administration to sports development and the promotion of sporting excellence.
Other senior officials who received the tournament jerseys includes the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports Development, Pereyi Efeke, and the Director of Sports at the Bayelsa State Sports Council, Bibowei Lambert.
Speaking on preparations for the championship, Ambassador Henry George disclosed that technical activities would commence on Thursday, October 15, with the weighing of athletes and a technical course for coaches and referees.
He explained that the course was designed to equip coaches and referees with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure effective officiating and compliance with the rules and standards of mixed martial arts.
George further disclosed that athletes’ grading would also take place on Thursday as part of the qualification process for the 2026 National Sports Festival, scheduled to hold in Enugu State under the theme Coal City Games.
The championship is expected to provide a platform for athletes to showcase their abilities, gain valuable competitive experience and contribute to the continued growth and development of mixed martial arts in Nigeria.
