Di Nigerian police officer wey dey eye MMA history

BBC News

19-07-2025

"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."