Mana FC XI – Whakapapa: When Mana, Ancestry & Warrior Spirit Meet In The Ring

Kua rite mō te pakanga! Elite Muay Thai kickboxing is coming to MAORI+.

Whakaata Māori is proud to partner with fight promoter MANA FC to bring audiences across Aotearoa live and exclusive coverage of one of the country’s most dynamic combat sports.

MANA FC XI – Whakapapa will stream live from 6.30 PM Friday, 27 September on MĀORI+ and MĀORI+ YouTube.

Blending elite Muay Thai combat with Māori pride, prestige, and cultural storytelling, MANA FC XI – Whakapapa is about more than the action inside the ring,” says MANA FC spokesperson Quentin Parr.

“It’s about recognising where our fighters come from, honouring their ancestors, and celebrating Māori resilience and excellence on a global stage. Every strike, every clash, echoes with the mana and power of their tūpuna.”

Fight fans can expect trans-Tasman elite matchups and dream Māori vs Pacific clashes (full card to be announced), with every bout framed by the values of manaakitanga, rangatiratanga, and whanaungatanga.

Fifteen bouts are planned throughout the evening, including the main event, a professional bout between Leon Pettifer (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāi Tukairangi) and Dane Edge (Ngāti Maniapoto). In another title fight, Amara Jones & Ravyn Simpson (Ngāti Oneone, Rongowhakaata, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) will contest the NZMF Female Lightweight Title.

Relative newcomer 17 year old Te Aroha Taoho Davis (Tainui) will take on the highly experienced 18 year old Ishtar Mackay-Huriwai (Ngāti Porou), who represented New Zealand at the Paris Olympics where Muay Thai was a demonstration sport.

Coinciding with Mahuru Māori, audiences will hear live commentary and analyses in te reo Māori, provided by Matau Houltham and Anaru Grant [Jnr].

Fight card (subject to change)

About MĀORI+: MĀORI+ is the digital gateway to te ao Māori – a free streaming app that brings together the best in Māori storytelling, language, news, haka and entertainment. Designed with whānau in mind, the platform is easy to navigate, available across devices, and constantly updated with fresh content. Download the app from Google Play or the Apple store. Watch online at www.maoriplus.co.nz

About Whakaata Māori: Whakaata Māori is Aotearoa New Zealand’s national indigenous media organisation, dedicated to revitalising and empowering te reo Māori, culture, and identity through storytelling. Guided by the vision, kia mauriora te reo - a future where te reo Māori is spoken everywhere, every day - Whakaata Māori fosters an environment where the language and its cultural heritage can thrive.

Māori Television trades under its reo Māori name to better reflect the role it plays in revitalising te reo Māori, our culture, and sharing our stories across multiple platforms. Whakaata means 'to mirror', 'to reflect' or 'to display.’
https://whakaatamaori.co.nz

© Scoop Media