Unprecedented MMA action as PFL Africa hosts elite fighters in Cape Town's Grand Arena
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is setting up shop in Africa with the PFL Africa, and it's hosting the biggest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event South Africa has seen thus far in its launch.
The PFL competes alongside the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in terms of organisation size and calibre, with several of the worlds best MMA fighters taking to the Grand Arena at Grandwest, Cape Town, on Saturday, 19 July 2025, to compete.
It's looking increasingly unlikely that UFC — in which South African middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis competes — will host an event in South Africa for the foreseeable future with operational costs, ticket prices and suitable venues an issue for the Dana White-run organisation.
So for South African MMA fans, Saturday's event is the highest quality MMA event the country will see until PFL decides to return.
PFL Africa launches on Saturday — PFL's third international league alongside PFL Europe and PFL Middle East and North Africa — beginning with first-round matchups in the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions. Each division will feature an eight-person bracket, with fighters advancing through semifinals and finals.
The tournament will span four events across Africa and feature 24 fighters from 14 African countries. The next event is on 9 August in Johannesburg — at Top Arena, Carnival City — where the featherweight and welterweight divisions will compete.
South Africa's Nkosi Ndebele's (8-3) bantamweight bout against Egypt's Mahmoud Atef (5-2) is one of a handful of mouthwatering PFL Africa clashes on Saturday.
Later on Saturday night the event will be headlined by five PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai bouts — PFL's main fighting league. In the World Title main event, undefeated Middleweight World Champion Johnny Eblen (16-0) meets Spain's Costello van Steenis (16-3). In the co-main event, undefeated 2024 PFL world champion Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) takes on Hawaii's Sumiko Inaba (8-1).
Headliners
In the process of PFL's ongoing expansion, it also acquired another MMA organisation, Bellator MMA, in 2023.
In doing so, it signed several of their stars including Saturday's star attraction Eblen.
'Being part of the global expansion for the PFL is really fun,' Eblen said at the media day on Wednesday. 'Me and my wife get to travel the world.
'It's fun to see the world, see different cultures and see fighting spread. At the end of the day it's what we want to do, and the PFL has been a big staple for that, and I'm happy to be a part of it.
'What's attractive about it is that they can bring in new guys for me to fight.
'[PFL] is really good at raising money and getting things going. I'm fighting in Africa now, I fought in Saudi Arabia twice, before that I was mainly fighting in the States, which was fun but I also like travelling.'
It's Eblen's first time in South Africa. The middleweight star has spent two weeks in the country to acclimatise and get over the time difference. But in the time he's been in the Mother City, he's also had his phone stolen.
'We were in an Uber, my window was down in the city centre in a bad area and someone snatched my phone,' he said, although admitting that it was down to his own negligence.
'But that would happen anywhere, that would happen in the US in a bad area.'
His opponent on Saturday night, Van Steenis, was adamant that he would break Eblen's unbeaten run, claiming he would end the bout in the second round. Eblen's response was short and to the point: 'No, he's not.'
Although the 33-year-old did outline that Van Steenis is a top athlete, he's confident he'll retain his middleweight crown against the Spaniard.
'He's an aggressive, athletic guy, he goes for the finish, but that's really it,' Eblen said. 'Every guy I've fought has that ability. He's nothing different to what I've seen from any other opponent. Just a different guy on a different day. I've got better.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
an hour ago
- The Citizen
England hero Kelly overcomes 'dark moments' on way to Euro glory
England penalty hero Chloe Kelly said Sunday she had been unable to hold back the tears after finishing a roller-coaster... England's Chloe Kelly celebrates after scoring the winning penalty in the shootout against Spain on Sunday. Picture: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP England penalty hero Chloe Kelly said Sunday she had been unable to hold back the tears after finishing a roller-coaster year in her career by scoring the spot-kick that allowed the Lionesses to beat Spain in the Women's Euro 2025 final. ALSO READ: Sub sinks Morocco as Nigeria are crowned African football queens The 27-year-old's penalty sealed a 3-1 shoot-out victory for England against Spain after the match in Basel had finished 1-1 at the end of extra time. England's Kelly's key impact She had earlier come off the bench late in the first half in place of the injured Lauren James with England trailing 1-0, and crossed for Alessia Russo to head in her team's equaliser. 'I just came on the pitch and wanted to make something happen,' said Kelly, who has made a habit of being a super-sub during the tournament. The Arsenal player came on as a substitute against Sweden and helped England recover from 2-0 down in a quarter-final they eventually won on penalties — Kelly scored in that shoot-out too. Then she scored the winner late in extra time in the semi-final against Italy, following in to net after her penalty had been saved. 'I know Alessia's strengths and I just tried to put the ball on her head, and then taking the penalty,' Kelly said. 'I actually missed three penalties in training yesterday but I think it's the belief in this squad, all 23 players and the people that you don't see behind the scenes, the staff members, to get us through this tournament. 'I am proud to be part of an amazing group of girls.' It is a familiar feeling for Kelly, who scored the extra-time winner when England beat Germany 2-1 in the Euro 2022 final in front of over 87,000 fans at Wembley. In between she was unable to change the game from the bench in the 2023 World Cup final, which England lost 1-0 to Spain in Sydney. 'Tough times don't last' Just a few months ago it seemed Kelly might not even make Sarina Wiegman's squad for the tournament in Switzerland, given her situation at club level. In January she asked to leave Manchester City, where she had been used sparingly in the first months of the season. Kelly wrote on social media that people at City had been trying to 'assassinate my character' and said her mental wellbeing had been affected. She then joined Arsenal on loan until the end of the campaign, and went on to play for them as they beat Barcelona in the Champions League final in May. 'There were a lot of tears at full-time especially when I saw my family because those are the people who got me through those dark moments,' Kelly said on Sunday. 'I am so grateful to be out of it but if that is a story to tell someone who maybe experiences something the same, then tough times don't last,' she added. 'Just around the corner was a Champions League final — I won that, and now a Euros final I have won that, so thank you to everyone who wrote me off. I am grateful.' Kelly recently signed permanently for Arsenal, where she also played earlier in her career, and will return to North London as a European champion at club and international level. 'Every player has their own story, and I think every story is incredible on its own, but her story is unbelievable,' said England coach Sarina Wiegman. 'I am so happy for her too. She has been fighting to come back to her highest level. ALSO READ: No complaints from Ellis in Banyana defeat 'She loved this moment, she just really wanted to take the penalty — to be able to score that penalty under that pressure is very impressive too.'
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
England to 'copy' Springboks' 7-1 bomb squad
The concept of the 'bomb squad' first came into the rugby conversation when the Springboks utilised a 6-2 forwards-to-backs split on the bench during the 2019 World Cup, while this was elevated even further in recent times when Rassie Erasmus occasionally opted for a 7-1 substitutes set up. Although there have been some critics of this tactic – mainly from overseas pundits – there have been a number of other clubs and countries who have begun to experiment with a bench that is also packed with forwards, coupled with versatile backs. Now, according to The Telegraph , England are planning to also try out a 7-1 split as coach Steve Borthwick apparently wants to be able to include as many back-rowers as possible in his match-day squad considering this is an area where they have plenty of depth. In aiming for maximum flexibility, it's also reported that Borthwick is training props to deputise at hooker, while also prioritising some players who have the ability to cover more than one position. It all sounds a bit familiar, doesn't it? As part of recent World Rugby workshops looking at law changes, it was stated that the governing body was looking at the role of the replacements. In what will come as a huge relief to the Springboks and their fans, World Rugby's chief executive, Alan Gilpin, told The Guardian that there are no medical grounds to outlaw this bench configuration. 'We looked at it from a science, medicine perspective. Was there a distinctive view that a bunch of fresh players coming on with 20‑30 minutes to go is going to create a more injurious position, and the science said that's not the case. 'So there was no reason from that perspective to look at how we might do replacements differently. Ultimately, there are a lot of different ways to win a rugby match.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
5 hours ago
- The Citizen
South African youth lead the way in international cue sports and athletics
South African youth lead the way in international cue sports and athletics South Africa continues to make a significant impact on the global sports stage, with notable achievements across a variety of international and continental competitions. On the continental front, South Africa topped the medal table at the 3rd CAA African U18/U20 Combined Championships held in Nigeria, showcasing the depth of young athletic talent on the continent. Internationally, South African sprinters Akani Simbine and Zakithi Nene competed at the prestigious Diamond League meeting in London, aiming for gold medals. ALSO READ: Sport minister vows action over missing Boxing SA retirement fund Simbine finished fifth in the men's 100m dash with a time of 10.11 seconds, while Nene secured third place in the men's 400m race, adding to the country's strong showing on the track. In a different sporting arena, pool enthusiasts gathered in Mauritius for the inaugural Commonwealth Billiards Championships, a week-long celebration of cue sports. Team South Africa featured a strong lineup, including Craig Bouwer, Marina Jacobs, Senzo Gumede, Suzette Booysen, Elzette Koen, Jason Theron, Joy Willenberg, Kris Pillay, and Kyle Akloo, among others. The championships featured four disciplines: Snooker, Blackball, 8-Ball, and 10-Ball. Back home, the Cue Sport Centre in Primrose hosted the 2024/2025 Junior SA Blackball Championships, managed by Flames Pub and Grill, which also runs its own leagues. In the U15 singles, Phumelo Marumulo took home the trophy, medal, and a special 43-year-old cue stick donated by Bruce Cilliers. In the U18 singles, Samkelo Khumalo from Gauteng was runner-up after a tough match against Western Cape's Irfaan Williams, who dominated with a whitewash victory. ALSO READ: Ithembelihle learners and teachers unite for sports day 'Winning was amazing because I'd put in countless hours of practice,' Williams said. 'I practiced for nearly ten hours, and after winning the third round, I knew the title was mine.' Williams, who turned 17 on July 18, had previously won the U15 title without a coach, practicing with his brother at home. Khumalo admitted that he lost due to silly mistakes. 'After losing the third round, I knew I'd lost. Coming from Zone 1 Soweto, my goal is to continue learning and become more comfortable with the game, overcoming my nerves,' he said. 'I initially played for fun, but since 2021, I've taken it seriously. I've qualified for nationals four times in a row since then and represented South Africa at the World Championships in Morocco, reaching the semi-finals in 2022. As a learner from President High School, I would have dedicated the trophy to my family.' Billiards South Africa (BSA) Development Manager Liza Ngxenge highlighted that 13 South African players competed in Mauritius and noted that the country is set to host the Blackball World Championships in 2026, provided plans stay on track. Ngxenge emphasised the intensity of provincial qualifications, where a single bad day can cost players their spot. Life CueSports Academy was well represented, with 6-7 players on Gauteng's team, making the province a strong contender. Ngxenge pointed out that Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal are growing rapidly and challenging Gauteng's dominance, although the main competition remains between Western Cape and Gauteng — with Western Cape edging ahead this time. 'This sport needs all the support it can get, as it is often still viewed as a tavern activity. However, with competitors as young as seven years old participating, it's clear that the younger generation is taking pool seriously and pushing it beyond its tavern roots,' Ngxenge said. Beatrice Monjake from Room 8 in Soweto, part of Team Gauteng and operating under Qlife, has been guiding young players. She praised pool for having a positive impact on children by keeping them off the streets and teaching discipline. Monjake brought nine players from Room 8 who have grown to match her skill level. She also commended BSA for supporting the children with essentials like food and accommodation during competitions. The Commonwealth gold medalists in billiards are Craig Bouwer (South Africa) in 10-Ball, Senzo Gumede (South Africa) in Blackball, and Chandiga Ceaser (Uganda) in Heyball.
