South Africa's Caleb Swart en route to winning gold at the IMMAF Africa Championships in Angola yesterday. Photo: Supplied
Image: Supplied
Day two of the IMMAF Africa Championships saw South Africa enter the fray, delivering strong results.
Competing at the Pavilhão Multiusos do Kilamba, Mzansi shone on the podium, with 2025 champions Caleb Swart and Caitey Karagiannidis cementing themselves as back-to-back, two-division champions. Their compatriots, Dante D’Amico (Youth A Lightweight) and Liam Smith (Youth A Super Welterweight), secured silver medals.
After winning gold in the Youth Men’s Welterweight division last year, Caleb Swart—the son of EFC referee Wiekus Swart—once again impressed, this time claiming victory in the Youth A Men’s Middleweight division after defeating Angola’s Tchossi Antonio in the final.
Medals Table
Image: Medals Table
Karagiannidis also wrote her name into the history books. The reigning Youth A Women’s Strawweight champion moved up a division to claim the Youth A Flyweight title, finishing ahead of Angola’s Maria Caxoco (silver) and Maria Jose Moreira (bronze).
The day’s proceedings also marked the return of one of Africa’s most promising MMA talents, Angola’s Claudio Fontoura, who once again dominated the Youth A Bantamweight division and walked away victorious.
In total, 14 gold, 14 silver, and 10 bronze medals were awarded.
Today marks the start of the Junior and Senior Round of 16, which begins at 11:00 (SAST).
The event is available to stream on IMMAF.tv. For more updates, follow the IMMAF and MzansiMMA Instagram pages.
MEN
Bantamweight – 61.2 kg: Claudio Fontoura (Angola); Brayan Felix Bondja Minka (Cameroon); Etiandro Pedro (Angola); James Mukwamba (Zambia).
Featherweight – 65.8 kg: Messala Da Cruz (Angola); Eric Ilunga (DR Congo); Afonso Pires (Angola).
Lightweight – 70.3 kg: Dinis Dinga Bravo (Angola); Dante D’Amico (South Africa); Kilcar Alberto Gomes (Angola).
Super Lightweight – 74.8 kg: Diasivi Renato (Angola); Higildio Leite (Angola).
Super Welterweight – 79.4 kg: Uriche Djeri Djomou Fakam (Cameroon); Liam Smith (South Africa); Joel Ferreira (Angola).
Middleweight – 83.9 kg: Caleb Swart (South Africa); Tchossi Antonio (Angola); Obedy Sebastiao Antonio (Angola).
Super Middleweight – 88.4 kg: Kalemba Kitoko (Angola); Francisco Manuel (Angola).
WOMEN
Atomweight – 47.6 kg: Evelise Mendes (Angola); Emilia Candundo Antonio (Angola).
Strawweight – 52.2 kg: Delfina Alexandre (Angola); Maria Wembo (Angola); Zinaida Nanyizya (Zambia).
Flyweight – 56.7 kg: Caitey Karagiannidis (South Africa); Maria Caxoco (Angola); Maria Jose Moreira (Angola).
Bantamweight – 61.2 kg: Alexandra Koassan Yelena (Cameroon); Anaury Sequeira (Angola).
Featherweight – 65.8 kg: Engracia Manzambi Garcia (Angola); Claudia Mundula Mundula (Angola).