PFL Hosts Inaugural Africa MMA Event in Cape Town

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is hosting its inaugural Africa event on July 19, 2025, at GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa, showcasing a historic moment for African MMA. The event features top local talent including South Africa's Nkosi Ndebele headlining a bantamweight bout against Egypt's Mahmoud Atef, among other matchups involving fighters from across Africa and beyond. This card precedes the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai, headlined by undefeated middleweight champion Johnny Eblen defending his title against Costello van Steenis, with women's flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva also defending her belt. PFL's general manager Elias Schulze hopes that affordable ticket prices will help the league grow its popularity in Africa, potentially competing with the UFC's established presence. Meanwhile, Nigerian fighters continue to make significant strides on the global MMA stage, particularly in the UFC, symbolizing resilience and national pride as the sport develops across Africa. Additionally, simultaneous MMA events include a high-profile UFC 318 lightweight trilogy bout between Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway in New Orleans, highlighting the global spread and excitement of mixed martial arts.