The Grandwest Arena will play host to the one-night event, which will feature the debut PFL Africa event, as the promotion’s latest regional league kicks off its 2025 season with the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions taking the stage. The full tournament lineup and schedule is set to be announced in due course.
Each division will feature an eight-man tournament, with the most notable name on the July 26 lineup being former BRAVE CF bantamweight champion Nkosi Ndebele, who will make his PFL debut when he takes on Mahmoud Atef in a first-round bantamweight matchup.
PFL Africa will be led by the league’s chairman and current PFL heavyweight superfights champion Francis Ngannou, who will serve as the figurehead for the African arm of the PFL as they look to establish a talent pipeline for the continent’s top fighting talent to make it all the way to the world stage with the PFL.
The event will also include a PFL Champions Series card, with Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen and PFL 2024 women’s flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva both set to feature.
Eblen will put his world title on the line against Dutch contender Costello van Steenis, while Ditcheva will look to continue her dominance of the PFL’s 125-pound division when she takes on former Bellator veteran Sumiko Inaba.
“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,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray.
“With PFL Europe, PFL MENA and now PFL Africa launching, PFL’s international growth strategy and footprint is 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.”
PFL Africa: Confirmed fights
- Jashell Ticha Awa vs. Justin Clarke – heavyweight
- Nkosi Ndebele vs. Mahmoud Atef – bantamweight
- Abdoullah Kane vs. Mohammad Ben Yahia – heavyweight
- Simbarashe Hokonya vs. Abderrahman Errachidy – bantamweight
PFL Champions Series: Confirmed fights
- Johnny Eblen vs. Costello van Steenis – for middleweight title
- Dakota Ditcheva vs. Sumiko Inaba – women’s flyweight
