Exclusive: Peter Murray Reveals New International Expansion of PFL Africa
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The PFL has been expanding year after year, and with the fight organization in the middle of their new single-elimination tournament format, there is another big expansion on the way.
PFL Africa is launching this year, and CEO Peter Murray sat down to discuss the new global launch with Newsweek Sports.
"We are going to kick off PFL Africa, the third international league, and we are going to kick that tournament off in Cape Town on July 26 in South Africa at the Grand West Arena. Super excited about it.
"Not only are we launching our third international league behind PFL Europe, which is in its third year, and PFL MENA in the Middle East in its second year, but we now launch PFL Africa. And we are actually going to bring the PFL's global stars as a launching pad for PFL Africa," Murray stated.
"The PFL Champions Series this year will also kick off in Cape Town, as part of the festivities."
PFL CEO Peter Murray and Tope Lawani.
PFL CEO Peter Murray and Tope Lawani.
PFL
Not only is the PFL launching the new PFL Africa, but the popular PFL Champions Series will be part of this new global launch in July, and feature five Champions Series fights on the main card.
Two of those fights have been announced, with undefeated middleweight champion Johnny Eblen (16-0) facing off against Costello van Steenis (16-3), and the return of global superstar Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) taking on Sumiko Inaba (8-1)
The addition of Eblen and van Steenis, and Ditcheva and Inaba are going to be two world-class bouts, which are set to headline the entire combined PFL Africa and Champions Series event.
"We are excited. The PFL Champions Series is a signature franchise for us. It's where the best compete ... we are continuing that momentum and staging PFL Champion Series in world-class destinations."
One of the most exciting aspects of this new PFL Africa international league is that longtime and beloved MMA superstar Francis Ngannou is the chairman for this new expansion.
Murray also discussed what it's like to partner with Helios as well as add the steep leadership with Ngannou as chairman.
"PFL Africa is led by Francis Ngannou, he is our chairman in partnership with Helios ... our strategic partner Helios is a lead investor in NBA Africa."
"We also bring leadership with Francis. It's an amazing opportunity. PFL and Francis, he gets to go home to Africa to develop the next generation of great fighters and future champions. You do not have to leave the continent to be supported as a professional athlete and compete."
The PFL is also planning on making this launch one of the most visible, with Canal+ ensuring broad coverage across the region. He also revealed that the U.S. will be able to stream the fights, but that announcement will come later.
The fight card for PFL Africa so far is as follows:
Updated PFL Africa Card:
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Maxwell Djantou Nana (6-1) vs. Mickael Groguhe (6-2)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Nkosi Ndebele (8-3) vs. Mahmoud Atef (5-2)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Abdoullah Kane (3-0) vs. Mohammad Ben Yahia (9-4)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Simbarashe Hokonya (5-0) vs. Abderrahman Errachidy (4-1)
Updated PFL Champions Series Card:
Middleweight World Title Main Event: Johnny Eblen (16-0) vs. Costello van Steenis (16-3)
Women's Flyweight Co-Main Event: Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) vs. Sumiko Inaba (8-1)
For more MMA, head to Newsweek Sports.
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