Pius Ayinor
Wasi Adeshina is a fighter who hardly keeps track of his fights. The Nigerian mixed martial artist, popularly known as the Nigerian Jaguar, will face Spain’s Ignacio “Nacho” Campos in one of the main bouts at the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Africa tournament in Lagos.
This and other fights have been scheduled for Saturday night in Eko Hotel Convention Centre – a luxury environment set to absorb heavy knocks and tears.
Adeshina, who won the first-ever PFL Africa title in December, met with the media on Thursday, a day before their weigh-in event. In a press conference on Thursday, Lagos-born Adeshina said he is under no pressure to perform in front of his home crowd. His cool confidence should be a source of worry to Nacho Campos, but the Spaniard has waved off that.
Adesina said on Thursday, “I don’t keep count of my fights, but I know that I have done a lot of fights. My own business is to prepare well, walk in there, and do the job. I leave the counting to the public.”
On Saturday, when he faces equally ready and confident Macho, he will be looking to improve his record of 10 victories and three losses. The 29-year-old will be fighting in front of his mother when he steps into the cage anytime from 6pm.
“My mother will be in the hall for the fight. It will be her first time watching me fight live.”
Be sure that he will not mix emotions with business. He stated so.
The Spaniard has won seven out of his nine professional fights across different parts of the world. He has met different kinds of fighters and fought different kinds of people, and surely the experience and exposure will count this time.
“Adesina will be just like any other fighter I have met, and fighting in Lagos doesn’t give him any advantage.”
His fight routine is what gives him great assurance.
“I fight very hard and give it all. I talk less, and I also do very little with social media,” he said on Thursday.
In the other co-main event, Nigeria’s Patrick “Star Boi” Ocheme will take on Cameroon’s Octave “The Bantu Warrior” Ayinda in their first-round match in the lightweight tournament. Juliet Ukah, the undefeated Nigerian strawweight, faces Brazil’s Elisandra Ferreira in a women’s showcase bout.
“It’s my second fight in MMA, and I hope to do well again,” she said, even as she hopes she can get better facilities to train in Nigeria.
“I am confident going into this fight and this business because of my skill and trust in God.”
Karim Henniene of Algeria and South Africa’s Thimna Kingslayer will figure out things against each other in the cage. The Algerian said his source of motivation is doing all to get to the top.
“My motivation is to be the best,” he said in Lagos.
Nigeria’s Yahaya Yahuza and Cameroon’s Jordan Fongno will tango in what promises to be a night of fights and thrills.
Extrasportnigeria 
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