Cameroon’s Ministry of Sports and Physical Education and the Cameroon Mixed Martial Arts Federation (FECAMMADA) have praised rising MMA star Boris Mbarga Atangana following his emphatic victory at the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Europe event in Brussels, Belgium.
A former lightweight fighter, Atangana secured a spectacular 65-second knockout victory in his middleweight debut against veteran American fighter Jared Gooden at the ING Arena on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
In a congratulatory message, the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Prof. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, described the performance as a reflection of Cameroon’s “fighting spirit.”
“Congratulations to Boris Mbarga Atangana for his crushing victory against American Jared Gooden by standing knockout in the very first minute of the opening round,” the minister stated.
The minister also hailed Atangana as one of Cameroon’s sporting ambassadors abroad, celebrating his contribution to promoting the country through combat sports.
Nicknamed “The Modern Gladiator,” Atangana entered the bout with an unbeaten professional record of eight wins, including three victories inside the PFL SmartCage. The latest triumph improves his record to 9-0, further cementing his growing reputation on the international MMA scene.
Since joining the PFL in July 2025, the Cameroonian prospect, who fights out of Belgium, has never left a fight to the judges’ scorecards. He is now 4-0 in the PFL, with all victories coming by KO/TKO.
While celebrating his sporting success, the Cameroon MMA Federation also praised Atangana for flying the Cameroonian flag high on the diplomatic front.
The federation revealed that Atangana was received alongside his family by the Belgian Ambassador following his 56-second TKO victory over Portuguese fighter Bruno Santos during his PFL debut on July 5, 2025, a performance that also earned him the King of Fighters (KOF) World Champion title.
Sharing photos from the audience, FECAMMADA described the meeting as official recognition of Atangana’s exceptional journey marked by courage, discipline and patriotism.
Beyond his sporting achievements, the federation said the recognition reflects the growing influence of Cameroonian and African MMA on the global stage, as well as the increasing role of athletes in cultural and diplomatic relations.
