MMA fighter to represent South Africa in World Championships
Darius Dekker is prepared to take the title in his weight class at the IMMAF Youth 2023 World Championships.
Darius Dekker, a Grade 10 learner at Hoërskool die Anker, was selected to represent the South African Youth MMASA team at the IMMAF Youth 2023 World Championships in Abu Dhabi.
The championship will be from August 2 to 5, where Darius will compete in the U67kg weight class. Fighters from over 30 countries will attend the tournament and be watched by fans worldwide on IMMAF.TV.
Darius has won gold and one silver every year since 2016 at the national kickboxing championships, and gold every year at the MMASA national championships since 2019.
There were no championships in either discipline in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Darius fought his first competition in 2013, at the age of nine. He won his first national championship in 2016.
Shihan Raymond Phillips coaches Darius at the Brakpan XKT Kickboxing and MMA Club. He acquired a collection of 168 medals and trophies over the years, all while still doing well at school.
Darius is calling on businesses to sponsor him for the world championships, as travelling costs are extremely high.
Anyone wanting to sponsor him can contact MMASA head office to verify that the payment is used for travel costs and the championships before issuing payment to Darius. Interested individuals may also contact Darius’ mother, Leonika at leonikadekker05@gmail.com or his father Kobus on 071 689 0050.
