The excitement is building as fans of mixed martial arts (MMA) eagerly anticipate the inaugural edition of Apex Combat Championship (ACC) in Nagaland. Scheduled for 30 September 2023 in Dimapur, this highly awaited event promises to deliver a night of intense, action-packed fights that will keep enthusiasts on the edge of their seats.
Yanrenthung Lotha, a dedicated MMA and fitness enthusiast, and Chenithung Jami, an accomplished MMA fighter and the owner of Biohack Performance Fitness Centre and Naga Bushido (MMA), came up with Apex Combat Championship (ACC) recognizing the wealth of untapped talent in the Northeast region. To accomplish this vision, ACC has partnered with Musik-A Events and Tunein Store.
With rising MMA popularity in the northeastern parts of India, where skilled fighters are establishing themselves as competitors in both the domestic and international scenes, Nagaland has also firmly established itself as a hub for MMA enthusiasts, with gyms and training centers cropping up across the state. The ACC event only serves to further fuel the passion for the sport and inspire a new generation of fighters to pursue their dreams within the cage, it is also committed to giving fighters a stage on which they can showcase their prowess while ensuring that it properly reflects the aspirations of the region’s athletes.
The ACC co-main event of the night will feature a Bantam weight match between an undefeated MMA national gold medalist Chourajit Laishram from Manipur training out of Warrior’s Cove, New Delhi and an 11-time undefeated Darren Karshandy from Shillong’s Happy Red Rooster MMA.
The inaugural edition of ACC is set to feature the main event as an exhibition bout between the international fighter, Musa Conteh from the American Top Team (ATT), USA against an upcoming Naga fighter, whose identity will be later revealed by the organizers. In addition to the main event, the ACC is packed with other exciting matchups across various weight classes.
In the Flyweight category, national gold medalist in amateur MMA with a record of 18 wins, Nazareth Lalthazuala from Mizoram will be taking on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu wizard with 11 wins, Aman Gussain from New Delhi and Aboto Ayemi with an impressive 99.9 ? KO record will bout against Mizoram’s Phenom Lalhmangaihzuala with an impressive record of 12-2. Meanwhile, after a long hiatus, gamebred Aloto Zhimomi from Nagaland and a true scholar of the art, Remmy Kharshandy from Meghalaya will go head to head in an epic battle of the veterans.
In the welterweight category, Mizoram’s HMS Dawngzuala and Meghalaya’s Kedo will both be making their debut while Meghalaya’s Jeff with an amateur win of 1 win and 1 loss will go up against debutant Avor from Nagaland.
Two promising female kickboxers, Sentizungla Ozukum from Nagaland will fight against Aasory Tamang from Assam in a stance to show female supremacy inside the ring.
Meanwhile, Nagaland’s Pop sensation Renbeni Odyuo will box Assam’s Model/Actor/YouTuber Leeza in an interesting exhibition encounter.
With fighters from Nagaland and beyond, the event promises to be a showcase of diverse MMA talent and skills. Both veterans and rising stars will share the cage, vying for victory and recognition on the national MMA stage.
According to Yanrenthung Lotha, the ACC encourages not just fighters but also more gyms to join this growing sport, promote health and fitness, and encourage a disciplined life away from drugs, alcohol, and other social menaces and instead live a fit and healthy life. This is being done to support talented Naga fighters as a profession and promote the sport. In the future, ACC envisages providing a venue where players may showcase their skill without concerns for registration fees and instead win accolades for the state and country.
The ACC Nagaland event promises to deliver an unforgettable experience that celebrates the spirit of competition, sportsmanship, and the undeniable excitement of mixed martial arts. However, according to the organizers, amateur fighters are not compensated elsewhere in the nation or even the world for showcasing their skills; therefore, the ACC as a nonprofit initiative views this as a drawback and supports fighters by paying for their necessary travel, living and fight arrangements.
As the Apex Combat Championship continues to expand its reach and provide a platform for MMA talent to shine, Nagaland’s place in the Indian MMA landscape is cemented. The ACC event will most likely be remembered as a night of unforgettable battles and as a catalyst for the growth of MMA in the region. MMA fans in Nagaland and beyond can look forward to more thrilling action from the ACC in the future as the promotion continues to make its mark on India’s fight scene.
Whether you’re a dedicated fan or new to MMA, enthusiasts from Nagaland and neighboring regions are encouraged to mark their calendars and secure their tickets for this thrilling night of combat sports as fighters prepare to step into the spotlight and showcase their skills at Agri Expo, 4th Mile, Dimapur on 30 September 2023.
Earlier, the ACC co-main event was scheduled to be battled between Bantam weight prospect Wakeel Waheeb from Bangalore’s Indian Combat Sports Academy and Darren Karshandy; however, the former according to the organizers has been seriously injured and unable to fight.
