Taka Mhandu vs. Giorgio Accorinti set for Cage Conflit 6

Team KF Martial Arts bantamweight Taka Mhandu is set to return to the cage at Cage Conflict 6, which is set to take place on March 5th at The Devenish in Belfast. “The Cat” will face off against Italian Giorgio Accorinti, in what will be his third professional fight since making the jump last year.

The 2019 Severe MMA Irish Amateur of the year went up against Asiashu Tshitamba on his pro debut at EFC 89, securing a well deserved split decision victory. Just under two months later, the Dublin-based bantamweight traveled back over to Johannesburg, South Africa to compete on the EFC 90 card.

Mhandu went up against Nicholas Hwende on the night but was left disappointed as he succumbed to a second-round, rear naked choke defeat. The Zimbabwe-Irish native will have a chance to put that defeat in the rear view mirror and get back inside the win column when he steps in to take on Accorinti at Cage Conflict 6.

The Team KF man spoke to SevereMMA about his excitement about competing once more on home soil, and about his motivation to get back to winning ways after tasting defeat for the first time in his career.

“I can not wait to get back in the win column”, said Mhandu. “Especially back on home soil, it’s been over two years since I’ve fought in Ireland, and it’ll be nice to fight in front of my friends and teammates again. As well as that, I’m excited to get my hand raised again and right my wrongs from the last fight. I’ll remind those who might have forgotten exactly who I am!”

“I’ve just been more focused outside of the training, I let myself down in the last fight. Congratulations to Nicholas but I feel as if I beat myself by not investing as much as I should have, and it lit a fire under me tasting defeat. It happened at the right time, now I really feel like I’m going to come into my own as the fighter everyone knows that I can be.”

Like his opponent, Italian-born Accorinti won on his professional debut when he competed in the lightweight division. Accorinti moved down to the featherweight division for his second fight but that did not go to plan as he was defeated in the second round at Italian-based promotion Messapicum Fighting Championship. Mhandu will welcome his Italian rival to the bantamweight division.

When asked about what fans can expect to see when the fight takes place, Mhandu expects a feast of action.

“Expect fireworks, I know everyone says that, but I’ve never been in a boring fight. I go out there to punch the head off people and this gonna be no different. I can see him shooting for the takedown. When he fails on the takedowns, or I get back to my feet and I keep landing my jab over and over again, he’s going to be looking for a way out. I’m having Italian for dinner March 5th!”

Cage Conflict 6 will be headlined by a monster domestic fight when FAI’s Ciaran Mulholland defends his flyweight title against SBG Charlestown’s Ger Harris. Mullholland has looked unstoppable since moving to the flyweight division. Harris is one of Ireland’s top prospects and will make his professional debut. That joins a host of top notch matchups which can be seen over on Cage Conflict’s Instagram page.

The Mandu vs. Accorinti fight is sponsored by Fáilte Feirste Thiar (Welcome to West Belfast), the west Belfast tourism and promotional agency. Fáilte Feirste Thiar acts as a role model, a leader and living example in what can be achieved when local communities work collaboratively and in partnership with Government departments, tourism promoters and other stakeholders to create employment, opportunities and to contribute to the portrayal of an image of a community – confident, welcoming and vibrant.

Cage Conflict 6 takes place on March 5th at The Devinish in Belfast city. Tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased on the link below.

Tickets: www.ticketsource.co.uk/cage-conflict