Latest news with #IMMAFAfricaChampionships
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
JJ Karagiannidis reaches quarter-finals at the IMMAF Africa Championships
Team Angola IMMAF Team Angola continue to dominate at this year's IMMAF Africa Championships, currently topping the medals table with 35 in total. Photo: IMMAF South Africa's JJ Karagiannidis has advanced to the quarter-finals of this year's Senior Men's Featherweight category at the IMMAF Africa Championships, after his opponent was a no-show on Day 3 in Luanda, Angola. On Wednesday at the Pavilhão Multiusos do Kilamba, two fights were set to take place in Round 16 of the Juniors and Seniors categories. However, the Republic of Congo's Vang-Si Yvan Nzaou failed to show up for his contest with the 2024 IMMAF Africa Junior Featherweight champion, Karagiannidis. The only successful match-up on Day 3 was in the same category between Cameroon's Arafat Nouhou and Angola's Rodrigo Cangoma. After three hard-fought rounds, it was the 21-year-old Cangoma, who took home the spoils with a unanimous decision win over his older opponent. Today, in the Juniors and Seniors Quarter-finals, Karagiannidis will face Zambia's Nathan Mufwaya at 11.24am (CAT), while his fellow Men's Featherweight opponents battle it out around the same time. Two athletes have already made it to the next round after two more no-shows were registered this morning on the SmoothComp website. Zimbabwe's Itai Chanyuka and Congo's Jelais Kitoubou Foubu failed to show up for their bouts against Angola's Clelio Diogo and Zambia's Jarcel Chimbwe, respectively. In Thursday's other fixtures, the Flyweights, Super Lightweights, Lightweights, and Super Welterweights will battle in the quarters for a shot at the next round. Karagiannidis will aim to carry the South African flag high today and put another smile on his father, renowned EFC official Bobby Karagiannidis' face. On Day 2, JJ's sister Caitey Karagiannidis claimed South Africa's first gold of the tournament after beating Cameroon's Adjanie Benjamin Zanga in their Youth Women's Strawweight (52.2kg) category in Angola's capital city of Luanda. 'I feel amazing. It does not even feel real,' said Karagiannidis. 'This is an incredible feeling and moment for me. I am excited to see my brother win a gold medal, too. Let's go,' referring to her brother JJ, who will compete today. Caiden Bouwer was the next South African to win gold after beating his teammate Dante Damico in their Youth Men's Lightweight (70.3kg) final. Bouwer was followed up by Caleb Swart, who stood tallest on the podium in his Youth Men's Welterweight division after beating Angola's Obedy Sebastiao Antonio in their final.
IOL News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Caitey and Caiden make their dad's proud at IMMAF Africa Champs
SUCCESS Caitey Karagiannidis was full of smiles after earning South Africa's first gold at this year's IMMAF Africa Championships in the Youth A division. Picture: IMMAF It was a memorable moment for Karagiannidis, who not only flew the SA flag high but also her family name. Caitey is the daughter of renowned EFC and IMMAF official Bobby Karagiannidis and sibling to IMMAF Africa 2024 champion JJ Karagiannidis. Mzansi's Caitey Karagiannidis broke the 'golden' ice for her nation after beating Cameroon's Adjanie Benjamin Zanga in their Youth Women's Strawweight (52.2kg) category in Angola's capital city of Luanda. Team Angola once again shone on the medals table, bagging 14 medallions (6 gold, five silver, and three bronze), followed by Team South Africa, with gold (3) and two silver medals. Day two of the IMMAF Africa Championships introduced the Youth A (16 - 17 years old) division to the Pavilhão Multiusos do Kilamba in Angola yesterday. South African Fighters Shine with Multiple Gold Medals at African MMA Championships 'I feel amazing. It does not even feel real,' said Karagiannidis. 'This is an incredible feeling and moment for me. I am excited to see my brother win a golden medal, too. Let's go,' referring to her brother JJ, who will compete today. Caiden Bouwer was the next South African to win gold after beating his teammate Dante Damico in their Youth Men's Lightweight (70.3kg) final. Another well-known brand within African MMA and the EFC, Referee Wiekus Swart, will also be smiling from ear to ear as his son Caleb stood tallest on the podium in his Youth Men's Welterweight division after beating Angola's Obedy Sebastiao Antonio in their final. In the Youth Men's Featherweight division (65.8kg), Leandro Freitas bagged the silver medal after facing Angola's Manuel Domingos in their final fight. The 2024 International Mixed Martial Arts Federation's youth athlete of the year, Mayra Lemos, showcased her skill and potential once again on the continental platform when she beat Cameroon's Yelena Nkoassan in their Youth Women's Bantamweight (61.2kg) weight class. Lemos has repeatedly proven that she can achieve great things on the global stage. It was also heartwarming to see the growth of Cameroonian and Mauritian MMA. Cameroon continues to become a familiar fixture on the podium with each passing event, and Mauritius secured their first-ever gold medal at this tournament when Aveer Jootun beat Dinis Dinga Bravo in their Youth B Men's (72kg) final. IOL Sport
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Angola dominate on day one of IMMAF Africa Champs
STRONG START It was a great day for Mauritian MMA as Aveer Jootun secured the nation's first gold at the IMMAF Africa Championships in the Youth B (72kg) division after beating Angola's Dinis Dinga Bravo (left) in a closely contested battle. | IMMAF Team Angola lived up to its reputation as a dominant force within global mixed martial arts by topping the charts on day one of the IMMAF Africa Championships yesterday in the capital city of Luanda. With a proud fighting history, the host nation regularly enters by far the biggest team into the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation's flagship tournament on the continent. However, nothing can be taken away from the skill and heart showcased on the day as Team Angola secured 21 medals (10 gold, 10 silver, and one bronze) in the Youth B & C section. Down at the Pavilhão Multiusos do Kilamba, some familiar faces shone once again for the Republic including Gisela Luna and Claudio Fontoura who claimed their second IMMAF Africa Gold medals after shining in Windhoek, Namibia, last year. In the tournament's opening bout, 13-year-old Luna, who faced fellow Angolan Monica Cardoso, showcased dominant grappling throughout, controlling the pace and leaving Cardoso with limited opportunities.
