BREAKING | PFL Africa launches in Cape Town with Inaugural MMA tournament this July
MMA
Former UFC Heavyweight king and current PFL Heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is the acting PFL chairman and will play an integral role in building the PFL Africa brand and building its talent
Image: BRAVE CF
South Africa’s Mixed Martial Arts scene will receive a significant boost this year as the Professional Fighters League (PFL) launches the historic and much-anticipated PFL Africa tournament in Cape Town this July.
The PFL is one of the biggest MMA brands alongside the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and it will now be the first major organisation to break ground on the continent. The PFL has confirmed that July 26 will mark the official opening of the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament.
The show will run in conjunction with the PFL Champions Series in a joint event, which will be rolled out at the GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World’s Grand Arena.
The PFL Africa 2025 tournament will comprise four events across Africa, featuring 24 top fighters from 14 African countries. The Cape Town leg of the PFL Africa Tournament will showcase athletes in the Heavyweight and Bantamweight divisions.
Former BRAVE CF Bantamweight champion Nkosi Ndebele has signed with the Professional Fighters League and will debut at PFL Africa on July 26 at the Grand Arena in Cape Town. Photo: PFL
Image: PFL
Each division will feature an eight-man bracket, with fighters progressing through semi-finals and finals.
Among the fighters on the day will be South Africa’s former BRAVE CF Bantamweight champion, Nkosi Ndebele, who will take on Egypt’s Mahmoud Atef. Another fan favourite and EFC star, Zimbabwe’s unbeaten Simbarashe Hokonya, will battle Morocco’s Abderrahman Errachidy in the same division.
In the Heavyweight category, South Africa’s Justin Clark will face Cameroon’s Jashell Ticha Awa, while Senegal’s Abdoullah Kane meets Morocco’s Mohammad Ben Yahia.
Ndebele recently bid farewell to BRAVE CF after becoming the promotion's first “homegrown” champion. Many were up in arms wondering where he would go next, and it seemed inevitable that he would join one of the major brands.
The debut night of the PFL Africa Tournament will include five major international bouts as part of the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai. The PFL Champions Series features MMA world champions and top PFL stars competing in title fights, with each event culminating in a showdown in Dubai.
In the world title main event at the Grand Arena, undefeated middleweight world champion Johnny Eblen will face Spain’s Costello van Steenis. The co-main event will see the formidable Dakota Ditcheva go head-to-head with Hawaii’s Sumiko Inaba in a world-class Women’s Flyweight clash.
In July 2024, the PFL announced its third international league — PFL Africa — after PFL Europe and PFL MENA, aiming to showcase African talent on the world stage.
Former UFC Heavyweight and current global combat sports superstar, Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou, is the acting chairman of the league and will also play a pivotal ambassadorial role in growing the Professional Fighters League on the Mother Continent, as well as in discovering and developing the next generation of African champions.
Francis Ngannou. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
“Kicking off the PFL Champions Series in Cape Town alongside the launch of PFL Africa reflects our commitment to grow the sport of MMA throughout the continent, as well as provide pathways for African fighters to compete on a global stage and become champions,” says Peter Murray, CEO of the Professional Fighters League.
“With PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and now PFL Africa launching, PFL’s international growth strategy and footprint are unmatched in the sport. This is all made possible by building a great team. I'm proud to partner with Francis Ngannou and Helios Sports & Entertainment Group, and excited to welcome Elias Schulze as GM of PFL Africa.”
The full tournament schedule, including future host cities and dates, will be revealed soon.
Ticket and broadcast details will also be announced in due course.