Ghanaian music legend Reggie Rockstone has made headlines for a different reason over the weekend with his explosive entry into mixed martial arts (MMA).
At 61, the rap icon stunned fans by defeating William Adom via submission in a thrilling Global World Championship bout at the Bukom Boxing Arena.
Though his age took a toll on him in the initial rounds, he swiftly gained momentum, holding his opponent in chokehold until he tapped out.
The electrifying event was graced by high-profile dignitaries, including Kimathi Rawlings, and attracted a massive crowd of both fight and music enthusiasts.
Reggie’s MMA journey may be new to many, but as he revealed in a pre-fight interview, his roots in martial arts run deep.
“If you’ve known me for over 50 years, you’d know I started martial arts before music. I was the youngest Shotokan brown belt and a two-time junior Taekwondo champion,” he shared.
His decision to enter the ring at his age, he said, was not only a personal challenge but a mission to inspire the youth and shine a spotlight on Ghana’s budding MMA scene.
“Every day is a risk, but this is a calculated one. My goal is to lend my celebrity to build MMA in Ghana and show that age shouldn’t stop anyone from chasing new goals.”
Despite initial skepticism, especially from his family, Reggie’s win has sparked a national conversation and inspired many to consider training and fitness.
Watch snippet below:
RESPEK TO BROTHER WILLIAM ADOM ( what a warrior) BLESS YOU ALL FOR THE LOVE SPENT AND THE VIM LENT!!! @globalwarriorchampions YOU ARE ONTO SUM HUGE! @kustomlooksgh ( my red tiger fit was that fly Hong Kong phooey🔥) @flashkickk THANKS FOR TIPS! SHARE TO INSPIRE ALL🙏🏿🤜🏿 #REDTIGER pic.twitter.com/h3ITJIrAXa
— Reggie Rockstone (THE HIPLIFE TRAORE) (@ReggieRockstone) May 4, 2025