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IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
PFL Africa debuts in Cape Town with landmark 14-fight card
Current Light Heavyweight World Champion Corey Anderson will move up a division to face 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion Denis Goltsov on the Champions Series card on July 19 at Grand West Casino in Cape Town. Photo: PFL Image: PFL Fight fans will be pleased to know that the first PFL Africa fight card is officially locked in. The Professional Fighters League is one of the biggest MMA brands alongside the UFC, and will now be the first major organisation to break ground on the continent next month in Cape Town, South Africa. On 19 July, at the Grand Arena in GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World, some of Africa's most talented mixed martial artists will have the opportunity to make a big statement and embark on a journey to PFL gold in the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament. The show will also feature world-renowned combat sports stars, forming part of an exciting and historic 14-fight card. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ This event marks a landmark moment for South Africa and the African continent as the PFL continues its global expansion plan following the launch of other leagues, including PFL MENA and PFL Europe. This vision aims to bolster the African combat sports market and ecosystem. The launch of the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament will include first-round matchups in the Heavyweight and Bantamweight divisions, each comprising an eight-man bracket. The tournament will span four events across Africa and feature 24 elite fighters from 14 African countries. In addition to tournament bouts, next month's show will be headlined by five high-stakes PFL Champions Series fights featuring elite global talent. Among the fighters competing on the PFL Africa card will be South Africa's former BRAVE CF Bantamweight champion Nkosi Ndebele, who takes on Egypt's Mahmoud Atef. Also fighting in the Bantamweight knockout tournament is EFC star and Zimbabwe's unbeaten Simbarashe Hokonya, who will face another undefeated prospect in Cameroon's Alain Majorique. In the Heavyweight bracket, South Africa's Justin Clarke meets Majorique's compatriot Jashell Ticha Awa, while Senegal's Abdoullah Kane clashes with Morocco's Mohammad Ben Yahia. In a showcase Women's Strawweight bout, the dangerous and unbeaten Nigerian Juliet Ukah faces South Africa's Ceileigh Niedermayr, a seasoned competitor under the bright international lights. In the Champions Series, fans can expect to see some of their favourite global stars. At 145 pounds, former Bellator Featherweight World Champion AJ 'Mercenary' McKee returns to the SmartCage to face Akhmed Magomedov, a rising Russian talent and protégé of the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov. Also confirmed is a Heavyweight showcase featuring current Light Heavyweight World Champion Corey Anderson, who moves up a division to take on 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion Denis Goltsov. Artur Zaynukov returns to the PFL following an impressive showing at Battle of the Giants, aiming to extend his win streak to six. He faces RIZIN veteran Takeshi Izumi of Japan, a decorated wrestler who earned a unanimous decision over Spike Carlyle in his most recent outing. Headlining the evening is undefeated Middleweight World Champion Johnny 'Pressure' Eblen, who puts his perfect record and title on the line against Spain's surging contender Costello 'The Spaniard' van Steenis (16-3). In the co-main event, Women's Flyweight phenom 'Dangerous' Dakota Ditcheva, widely considered one of the top pound-for-pound female fighters in MMA, takes on Hawaii's elite striker Sumiko 'Lady Samurai' Inaba in a thrilling penultimate bout. In July 2024, the PFL announced its third international league—PFL Africa—following the launches of PFL Europe and PFL MENA, with the aim of showcasing African talent on the global stage. Former UFC Heavyweight and current global combat superstar, Cameroon's Francis Ngannou, serves as acting chairman of the league. He will also take on a pivotal ambassadorial role to grow the Professional Fighters League in the Motherland and develop the next generation of African champions. '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 PFL Cape Town event begins at 4:30 p.m. SAST / 10:30 a.m. EST with the PFL Africa portion of the card, followed by the PFL Champions Series at 8:30 p.m. SAST / 2:30 p.m. EST. A U.S. broadcast partner will be announced shortly. Tickets for this landmark event are on sale now via Ticketpro and are moving quickly.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
It's the world's fastest-growing sport. A new series will bring MMA into lounge rooms across Australia
Rob Wilkinson reckons cauliflower ears are an occupational hazard. Fellow world champion Jacinta Austin has, fortunately, managed to avoid any such souvenirs during her mixed martial arts career. Both are hopeful that their sport will be showcased on a whole new level after the launch on Tuesday of the Professional Fighters League Pacific series, which chief executive Peter Murray predicted would deliver 'the most accessible MMA experience Australia has ever seen'. While the Ultimate Fighting Championship remains the most high-profile and lucrative of the MMA codes, Murray said there were more than enough athletes and fans to warrant multiple series. 'It's the fastest-growing sport in the world,' Murray said. 'Over 600 million fans, 80 per cent outside the US … UFC cannot fulfil all that demand, and they can't create the pathways for all the great athletes and fighters around the world.' Televised by Stan, 9Now and the 9Network, Murray said PFL Pacific will stage four events in 2026, starting with Sydney and Melbourne, as well as New Zealand. The best-performed local fighters will then advance to the even more lucrative Champions Series in Dubai. For Hobart-born 'Razor' Wilkinson, a world champion in the light-heavyweight division, PFL Pacific will provide an opportunity to inspire the next generation of Australian fighters. 'It's like any professional sport,' he said. 'It takes a lot of hard work and consistency and effort to get anywhere where you can kind of make a living. But I've always been passionate about it, so I enjoy what I do … there was no money for me for, you know, a good 10 years of my career and I kept doing it.
The Age
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
It's the world's fastest-growing sport. A new series will bring MMA into lounge rooms across Australia
Rob Wilkinson reckons cauliflower ears are an occupational hazard. Fellow world champion Jacinta Austin has, fortunately, managed to avoid any such souvenirs during her mixed martial arts career. Both are hopeful that their sport will be showcased on a whole new level after the launch on Tuesday of the Professional Fighters League Pacific series, which chief executive Peter Murray predicted would deliver 'the most accessible MMA experience Australia has ever seen'. While the Ultimate Fighting Championship remains the most high-profile and lucrative of the MMA codes, Murray said there were more than enough athletes and fans to warrant multiple series. 'It's the fastest-growing sport in the world,' Murray said. 'Over 600 million fans, 80 per cent outside the US … UFC cannot fulfil all that demand, and they can't create the pathways for all the great athletes and fighters around the world.' Televised by Stan, 9Now and the 9Network, Murray said PFL Pacific will stage four events in 2026, starting with Sydney and Melbourne, as well as New Zealand. The best-performed local fighters will then advance to the even more lucrative Champions Series in Dubai. For Hobart-born 'Razor' Wilkinson, a world champion in the light-heavyweight division, PFL Pacific will provide an opportunity to inspire the next generation of Australian fighters. 'It's like any professional sport,' he said. 'It takes a lot of hard work and consistency and effort to get anywhere where you can kind of make a living. But I've always been passionate about it, so I enjoy what I do … there was no money for me for, you know, a good 10 years of my career and I kept doing it.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Professional Fighters League expands globally with Pacific division launch in Australia and New Zealand
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) launched its PFL Pacific division on May 13, 2025, which is the organization's fourth international division. The division covers Oceania, spanning Australia and New Zealand. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This strategic move is after successful launches in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, with PFL Africa also coming in July 2025. The new division will run under PFL's trademark 'win and advance' tournament, giving regional fighters unparalleled chances to fight for life-changing amounts of prize money in the global spotlight. Australian talent pathway to receive unprecedented boost The first PFL Pacific Tournament will debut in 2026, with four live events where regional best fighters will duke it out in single elimination brackets. This development provides an open route to international fame for Australian and New Zealand fighters without the use of conventional promotional media. Notably, PFL has the desire to produce more Australian MMA champions than any other organization within three years. Stan Acting Managing Director Dan Taylor highlighted the partnership's significance: "As Australia's only locally owned streamer, we're proud to help power that growth from the ground up." The agreement makes Stan the exclusive home for the entire PFL portfolio in Australia, with live streaming on Stan Sport and select premium events available on Stan pay-per-view. Global stars and local heroes set to collide in 2026 Apart from the regional tournament, the Pacific region will host the events of PFL's Champions Series. Such a combination guarantees that the fans are going to watch both the grassroots development and the world-class competition. The expansion is based on the success of Australian MMA talents, for instance, Rob Wilkinson and Chelsea Hackett, who have already registered in PFL competitions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The fans can expect to see emerging stars from the same region that has brought the UFC champions Israel Adesanya and Jack Della Maddalena to the world stage. Also Read: The PFL Pacific will also be widely distributed over streaming, pay-per-view, and free-to-air platforms, making for what will be the most accessible MMA viewing experience ever for Australian audiences when it rolls out next year.
Newsweek
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Exclusive: Peter Murray Reveals New International Expansion of PFL Africa
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. 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.
