Barebones MMA steps into the big league with historic event

The sixth edition of the Barebones MMA promotion raised the stakes, and it looked that way even before the event began. 

The plan was not only to make it a platform for amateur MMA fighters but also to give it the feel of a professional setup. That’s exactly what promotion head Llyndall Sandenbergh emphasised about the vision behind the detailed planning and execution.

After all, many of the participants in this promotion are well on their way to the professional ranks.

Barebones serves as the bridge between amateur and pro MMA, and one could easily mistake it for a fully professional event, from the level of staging to the quality of fights that unfolded.

Headlining the event at Sunningdale over the weekend were Ayesha Majiet and Tara Abrahams, who made sure their fight is one to be remembered for a long time as they competed in the first-ever women’s title fight under the Barebones banner.

With so few opportunities available for women in the sport, both fighters made sure to make the most of their moment in the spotlight. The action-packed night delivered everything from knockouts to submissions, and the women’s bout lived up to the hype to close off the night.

Abrahams displayed superior grappling on her way to becoming the first female champion of the promotion.

It was far from easy, as Majiet brought all her defensive skills to fend off multiple submission attempts while working from the bottom for the most part. It was attack after attack, defense after defense, a true display of heart and skill from both fighters.

Eventually, Abrahams’ relentless pursuit paid off in the fourth round when she locked in an armbar to end the fight.

Her win capped off a clean sweep for her team, which dominated the night. Dean van Wyk claimed the featherweight title after a TKO victory over Ahmad Keraan, while Josh Bester earned the judges’ nod and the lightweight interim title after a hard-fought clash with Byron Sarjoo.

Colby Baxter added another victory for the team, securing the featherweight contender spot by showcasing his high-level grappling against Andrew Hunter.

The event also crowned the first-ever Barebones heavyweight champion, with Aku Okafar stopping Ebrahim Oosthuizen in the second round to seal his place in promotion history.

The event proved once again the growing reputation of Barebones MMA, not just as a proving ground for rising MMA fighters but as a stage where champions are made. More than 15 fights took place over the weekend and included youth fights in the early prelims.