By Bolaji Okunola
Africa’s first UFC world champion and President, African Knockout (AKO), Kamaru Usman, has expressed gratitude towards a significant moment which saw SuperSport, Africa’s leading sports broadcaster, cement a landmark partnership with African Knockout (AKO)—the continent’s premier Pan-African Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion.
The alliance, which is set to usher in a new era for mixed martial arts on the continent, has been poised to enhance fan engagement, expand storytelling opportunities, and create dynamic platforms for brand activation.
With SuperSport now serving as the exclusive linear broadcaster across Sub-Saharan Africa, the partnership positions AKO to reach broader audiences and become a key offering within SuperSport’s diverse sports portfolio.
The sports media outfit is excited by the vision shared by Usman, who stated, “This partnership isn’t just about building a platform—it’s about unlocking the full potential of African MMA.”
“It’s about inspiring a new generation of champions and creating a homegrown ecosystem that can rival the best in the world. There is no better partner for this Pan-African expansion than SuperSport—their reach, reputation, and deep connection to African audiences make them the perfect match for our vision at AKO,” Usman added.
Reacting to this, SuperSport CEO, Rendani Ramovha, believes AKO’s fresh, culturally attuned brand of MMA will offer compelling content for viewers.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Kamaru Usman and AKO. His vision aligns perfectly with SuperSport’s mission to deliver world-class sports content to African audiences and provide a robust platform for African talent,” he stated.
This strategic alliance will see SuperSport and AKO collaborate to deliver a dynamic broadcast experience, encompassing live fight nights, compelling feature content, and episodic storytelling centred on AKO athletes.
