The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has officially announced the launch of PFL Africa, its third international league, with an exciting inaugural event scheduled for Saturday, July 26 at the iconic GrandWest Arena in Cape Town. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the growth of mixed martial arts across the continent.
The upcoming event will kick off the eagerly awaited 2025 PFL Africa Tournament, featuring intense first-round matchups in both the Heavyweight and Bantamweight divisions. Each division will comprise an eight-man bracket, with fighters progressing through semifinals and finals in pursuit of glory.
Adding to the thrill, the Cape Town event will be headlined by five exhilarating bouts from the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai. The main event promises to be a spectacular clash as the undefeated Middleweight World Champion Johnny Eblen (16-0) faces Spain’s Costello van Steenis (16-3). In the co-main event, the unblemished 2024 PFL World Champion Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) will take on Hawaii’s Sumiko Inaba (8-1).
To ensure extensive reach throughout sub-Saharan Africa, PFL Africa has secured strategic distribution partnerships with Canal+ and SuperSport. They have also launched a mobile-first platform in collaboration with CFM, enabling direct access to affordable fight content for fans across the region, with the ambition to reach over 90% of African households.
Leading PFL Africa is global MMA icon Francis Ngannou, who takes on the role of Chairman. His leadership is set to nurture the next generation of African champions and guide the league’s growth. Helios Sports & Entertainment Group, known for their strategic investment in NBA Africa, joins as a vital capital partner. The newly appointed General Manager, Elias Schulze, brings nearly two decades of experience and will be instrumental in overseeing the launch and future operations of PFL Africa.
The inaugural tournament will showcase the talents of fighters from across the African continent, with the first-round matchups in the Heavyweight bracket featuring Jashell Ticha Awa (3-1) from Cameroon against South Africa’s Justin Clarke (2-0) and Senegal’s Abdoullah Kane (3-0) squaring off with Morocco’s Mohammad Ben Yahia (9-4). The Bantamweight bracket will see South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele (8-3) take on Egypt’s Mahmoud Atef (5-2) and Zimbabwe’s Simbarashe Hokonya (5-0) battling Morocco’s Abderrahman Errachidy (4-1).
“We are thrilled to kick off the PFL Champions Series in Cape Town alongside the launch of PFL Africa,” said Peter Murray, CEO of the Professional Fighters League. “This initiative underscores our commitment to expanding MMA in Africa and offering pathways for our fighters to achieve global recognition.”
With the stage set for an electrifying debut, fans can anticipate a future where African fighters take centre stage in the global MMA landscape. The remaining tournament bouts and details of the schedule are expected to be released shortly, promising an unforgettable spectacle for fight enthusiasts across Africa and beyond.