2× EFC World Champion · IMMAF World Champion
Africa's First Female Double-Division Champion
Amanda Lino did not grow up dreaming of being a world champion. She started training in mixed martial arts simply to get fit. What happened next changed everything. Within months, it was clear that Amanda had not just found a sport — she had found her calling.
The combination of technical precision, mental fortitude, and physical dominance that defines elite MMA felt, for Amanda, like home.
Growing up in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, Amanda found her first gym family at the Ballito Bulldogs — a tight-knit training collective where she earned the nickname that would follow her into the biggest arenas in African MMA: “Maddog.” Born on August 15, 1990, she began her MMA journey in 2011, initially to improve her fitness. Her natural talent quickly became evident, leading her to an undefeated amateur record of 6–0. In 2014, she clinched the world amateur MMA title at the IMMAF World Championships in Las Vegas. Turning professional in 2015, Lino made an immediate impact by securing a first-round TKO victory over Stephanie Quaile at EFC 38. She continued her ascent by becoming EFC’s inaugural Women’s Flyweight Champion in 2017, defeating Jacqui Trosee via second-round armbar at EFC 60. She later captured the Bantamweight title — becoming the first South African female to become a two-division champion in the EFC.
Coaching & Mentorship — Beyond her achievements in the cage, Lino has dedicated herself to developing the next generation of fighters. In 2024, she served as head coach for Team South Africa at the IMMAF Africa Championships in Windhoek, Namibia — assisting athletes with game planning, mental preparation, and drawing from her own experience as a world champion. “It’s special when you have athletes under your wing, and it means even more when you know they are watching you compete. As I’m becoming a better coach, I’m becoming a better athlete as well.”
Legacy & Impact — Amanda Lino’s contributions to MMA extend beyond her personal accolades. She has been instrumental in elevating women’s MMA in South Africa, inspiring many to pursue the sport professionally. Her dual role as a champion fighter and dedicated coach underscores her lasting impact on the MMA community in South Africa and across the continent.
A competitive career defined not just by titles, but by the manner in which they were won. Every fight. Every finish. Every first.
Began training at Ballito Bulldogs to get fit. Discovered an extraordinary natural talent for combat sports. The nickname "Maddog" earned through relentless intensity — a name that would echo through arenas across the continent.
Wins the IMMAF Featherweight Amateur World Championship — defeating competitors from Sweden and the USA via KO and TKO. AFL Featherweight Champion. The most decorated amateur female MMA fighter Africa had produced.
IMMAF World ChampionOn 10 June 2017, Amanda defeats Jacqualine Trosee via armbar in the second round — becoming the first-ever EFC Women's Flyweight Champion and the first woman to hold any EFC title. Performance Bonus awarded.
EFC Flyweight Champion · First EverSteps up to challenge Rizlen Zouak — an Olympic-level judoka — for the Bantamweight belt. Secures back mount in Rd 3 and forces the stoppage. Africa's first female double-division champion in MMA history. Fight of the Night.
EFC Bantamweight Champion · Historic
Inaugural champion. First woman to hold a title in the EFC. Defeated Jacqualine Trosee via armbar, Rd 2. Performance Bonus.
Africa's first female double-division champion. Defeated Rizlen Zouak (Olympic judoka) via TKO Rd 3. Fight of the Night.
IMMAF World Championships. Consecutive KO and TKO victories. Undefeated 6-0 amateur record.
"Winning the EFC title was validation for years of blood and sweat — and proof that everyone who said a woman couldn't make a success of this career was wrong."
Today, Amanda channels every lesson from her competitive career into building the next generation of champions at Maddog Performance Institute in Ballito.
Train With AmandaThere are no shortcuts to world-class. Every session is deliberate, structured, and purposeful — designed to build the athlete, not just their fitness.
Coaching built on techniques tested inside professional cages. Not theory — lived, proven, refined through world-champion competition.
Champions are made in the mind before the body. The mental conditioning programme at Maddog is as important as the physical work on the mat — and it is built by someone who has done it at the world level.
Recovery is 50% of training. Maddog's suite — overseen by an in-house registered nurse — is the only medical-grade sports recovery facility in Ballito.
Starts training at Ballito Bulldogs to get fit. Discovers an extraordinary natural talent for combat sports. The nickname "Maddog" is born.
Wins the IMMAF Featherweight Amateur World Championship. AFL Featherweight Champion. Undefeated 6-0 amateur record.
Amateur World ChampionMakes history as the first-ever EFC Women's Champion. Defeats Jacqualine Trosee via armbar. Performance Bonus. South African MMA changed forever.
First EFC Women's Champion in HistoryMakes history as the first female double-division champion in African MMA. Wins the EFC Bantamweight Championship via TKO Rd 3 vs Rizlen Zouak. Fight of the Night.
Double Champion · Fight of the NightEstablishes Ballito's only elite MMA and performance facility. Launches the Junior Academy, Women's Self-Defence Programme, and the Recovery Suite.
Strategic repositioning as the KZN North Coast's definitive premium fight and performance institute. Building the next generation of champions.
Maddog Performance Institute · Reborn
Watch Amanda "Maddog" Lino compete at the highest level of African MMA. These highlights capture the skills, heart, and championship mentality that define her career.
Proudly supported by brands and organisations that believe in what Amanda represents — excellence, discipline, and the pursuit of world-class performance.
There is only one gym in Ballito where your coach holds an active world title. This is that gym.