Efforts by local stakeholders to professionalise Senegalese wrestling has paid off following the admission of the discipline into the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), which is a full-contact combat sport that allows striking and grappling, both standing and on the ground, using techniques from various combat sports and martial arts.
Wrestling is a very popular sport in Senegal that attracts as high as 20,000 spectators to weekly events, and yields a minimum of $10,000 for participants, with some wrestlers earning up to $50,000 par fight.
The local federation has landed a deal with French mass media giant Vivendi Sports to organise the MMA championship in Senegal, which will broadcast across the group’s television channels around the world.
According to officials, the new competition will not stop local wrestling in the country but will rather offer wrestlers a wider exposure and improved remuneration.
