Umar Semata’s victory over Moses Golola at the grand opening of the refurbished Nakivubo Stadium was overturned shortly after the initial announcement. The high-stakes kickboxing fight, which saw Semata initially declared the winner by a significant 100-40 point decision, ended in controversy.
The fight, marked by intense action, featured Semata’s apparent triumph, with his hand raised by the referee. Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda, even joined the fighters in the ring to commend them on their performance.
However, the celebrations were abruptly halted when the referee addressed the crowd, revealing that Semata had employed illegal techniques during the match.
Specifically, Semata used throwing techniques, which are prohibited in K1-style kickboxing. This oversight led to an adjustment of the scores, ultimately declaring the bout a draw.
The fight, which commenced at 2:30 am, saw Semata dominate with powerful low kicks that left Golola struggling. Despite Golola landing a significant right hand in the first round, he struggled with stamina and fell twice in the second round. The third round saw Semata deliver a powerful round kick that left Golola staggering, leading to premature celebrations before the final bell.
This bout was the third encounter between these top Ugandan fighters, each having secured one victory in their previous two matches. Semata won their first fight at Freedom City in 2018, while Golola claimed victory in the rematch the following year.
With this latest fight declared a draw, there is mounting anticipation for a potential rematch, which could likely be the final bout for Golola, who has been instrumental in raising the profile of kickboxing in Uganda.
