The 9–11 June 2023 GAMMA Oceania Mixed Martial Arts Championship concluded with Team Samoa coming home with a 15-medal haul from the regional competition.

The country walked away with six gold medals, seven silver medals and two bronze medals from the first-ever Oceania tournament in this part of the world. It was a massive weekend for the whole team with fighters, both young and old stepping up to the ring with a chance to represent their countries.

Team Samoa put up a series of social media posts congratulating their gold medal winners, in the hopes of inspiring others to take on the sport and turn pro at any chance given.

One of the more senior fighters from Team Samoa, who got a gold medal in his pro division over the weekend, Anz Nansen took up the call for a chance in the ring.

“Ants got rid of his ring rust and out on a monstrous performance for the fans, delivering excruciating rips to the body. A good war between opponents who had much respect for each other," read one of the social media posts. 

Ants spent a lot of his time helping the combatants prepare, offering his service wherever it was needed. He trains and coaches out of the Smac Gym in New Zealand. 

Another Fighter, Elizabeth Richards took home gold in her division delivering power shots from a ground-and-pound victory.

“Liz threw smart and powerful shots in her bout last weekend, ending it with some massive powerful ground and pound. This one is special for Liz as her bout for Gold was up against someone she looked up to," read another post. “We are stoked she got to see her potential by putting herself in an uncomfortable position and overcoming the mind by stepping up with courage and trusting her skills to do the job and finish it.” 

However, one of the local fighters from Samoa, Asomua Saili did not get the outcome he wanted and came away with a silver medal, though with a bastion of knowledge and experience learnt.

“It was a great experience, I have been out of the ring for a couple of years now but it’s good to get that ring experience again,” he said. “He was a tough opponent but I was able to handle myself in the ring, it was a good fight.” 

Asomua added that he would need to do a bit more cardio work and more ring time as it has been a while.

The next championship which Team Samoa now has in its sights is in November this year with fighters from all over the world competing to become the world champion.

The President of Team Samoa, Felise 'The Fob Father' Leniu was proud of his team's efforts and elated at their performance as individual fighters.

"Every single one of the team members came home with a medal this grants them a place into the world's championships. We are so proud of our team as we did go into the games as a small nation amongst the rest," he said. "Only team to have fighters come in from Australia, New Zealand and Samoa so there were the challenges to also connect as a team and having different coaches in their corner. 

"Overall performance we can’t even put into words because Samoa stood out in so many different areas. Not only as individual fighters with great skill sets. You really saw the Toa and grit in all fighters, the heart to carry through all the backstage adversity and the hearts to support their brothers when they ended up in the finals having to fight one another. 

"Samoa, you could see had so much unity as a team, were well organised even though this was the first time many of them met each other."