Felista Mugo receives praise after win over Uganda’s Kiiza
By Valerian Khakayi, April 11, 2026Kenya’s first female Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter, Felista Mugo, has been widely hailed following her impressive victory over Uganda’s Annet Kiiza in Pretoria, South Africa.
Mugo delivered a dominant and composed performance at the PFL Africa event held at SunBet Arena, securing a unanimous decision win after three rounds of action.
The judges scored the bout 30-27, 30-27, and 30-26 in favour of the Kenyan fighter, reflecting her control and superiority throughout the fight.
From the opening round, Mugo showcased discipline, precision, and strong tactical awareness, effectively neutralising Kiiza’s offence and dictating the pace of the contest.
Her victory is an important turning point in her career and further cements her status as a trailblazer in women’s MMA in Kenya and across the continent.
Congratulatory messages
Following the win, Mugo received praise from fans and public figures who celebrated her achievement and applauded her for flying Kenya’s flag high on the international stage.
“Superstar congratulations, @felista_mugo,” Actor Pascal Tokodi wrote.
“Very strong woman..she should come to Kenya,take more Kenyan talent with her. Kenya to the world, congratulations Felista,” Jason Rang wrote.
“Congratulations, baby gal, thanks 4 making us proud,” Naomi Njeri wrote.
“Congratulations, Felista! Kenya is proud. History made,” another user wrote.
MMA career
The 24-year-old is one of the most talked-about names in MMA, attracting attention from fans both locally and internationally.
Mugo’s journey took a major step forward when she joined the Elite Training Centre in Lubumbashi, DR Congo, where she honed her skills under experienced coaches.
Her professional debut came against Sephora Kiala, a tough outing that ended in a unanimous decision loss.
She later faced Nicole Van Wyk and suffered another setback via TKO. For many fighters, back-to-back defeats at the start of a career could be discouraging, but for Felista, it became fuel.
Competing at EFC 114 marked a turning point, as those early struggles reignited her determination to push forward. That resilience paid off when she claimed her first professional win against Aneesha Mayman on June 6, 2024, a breakthrough that shifted the direction of her career and confirmed her potential.
From there, Felista began to find her rhythm inside the cage. She went on to secure a submission win over Merit Nwaji at Warrior Sport Championship 11, followed by victories against Chidimma Faith and Precious Okoh. With each fight, she showed sharper technique, smarter strategy, and growing confidence.