PFL Africa Brings the Fight to Carnival City on August 9

Welterweight & Featherweight First Round Fights Take Center Stage at the Big Top Arena, Carnival City in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the second PFL Africa event

By Boris Esono Nwenfor

BUEA, Cameroon – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), a global powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports league worldwide, is set to deliver another thrilling night of mixed martial arts action with its second-ever PFL Africa event. The fight night will occur on Saturday, August 9, at the iconic Big Top Arena, Carnival City, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Fight fans can look forward to witnessing Africa's top MMA stars clash in the Welterweight and Featherweight divisions, continuing the quest to crown the first-ever PFL Africa Champions. The 2025 PFL Africa season features 32 fighters from 15 African nations, with a continent-wide tournament reshaping the future of the sport in Africa.

The Professional Fighters League is rapidly expanding its footprint in Africa, offering athletes the opportunity to compete on a world-class stage while celebrating the continent’s rich diversity and deep pool of fighting talent. With success expected in the upcoming debut in Cape Town, PFL Africa’s Johannesburg event is poised to take the excitement to another level.

Blockbuster Matchups

The main event in Johannesburg will feature a Featherweight First Round showdown between Nigeria’s rising star Patrick Ocheme (6-1) and Guinea’s formidable contender Mohamed Camara (5-2-1). Both fighters are considered among the best West Africans in MMA and will look to make a statement in this high-stakes bout.

In the co-main event, Angola’s Shido Boris Esperanca (9-1) returns to the cage following an impressive debut victory in the PFL. He will face Gambia’s veteran fighter Ibrahima Mané (14-5) in a Welterweight First Round matchup that promises fireworks.

More fights for the Johannesburg card will be announced in the coming weeks. PFL Africa aims to provide a global stage for the continent’s fighters, with matches broadcast across Africa and internationally. The event will be shown live on SuperSport (Africa - English), Canal+ (Africa - French), PFL App (U.S.), and DAZN (France, UK & Ireland).

Tickets for PFL Africa Johannesburg go on sale this Thursday, June 12 via TicketPro. Fight fans are encouraged to secure seats early for what promises to be another electric night in the SmartCage.

3 Cameroonians headlining PFL Debut

PFL Africa's debut is set for Saturday, July 19 at Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town, South Africa. The Cape Town bouts which will feature three Cameroonian MMA Lions Maxwell Djantou Nana, Jashell Ticha Awa and Alain Majorique mark the launch of the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament, kicking off with First Round matchups in the Heavyweight and Bantamweight divisions, each featuring an eight-man bracket.

Nana (6-1 MMA record) will take on Cote d’Ivoire’s Mikael Groguhe (6-2 record), in a Heavyweight battle of heavy-handed finishers while Awa (3-1) will battle it out with the son of the soil Justin Clarke (2-0). Alain Majorique on his part will face Simbarashe Hokonya from Zimbabwe in a highly anticipated Bantamweight bout, Newswatch Cameroon reports. Both Majorique and Hokonya own 5-0 fight records.

The Cameroonian MMA athletes are among 18 elite fighters from the continent who will be competing in nine high-stakes bouts inside the PFL SmartCage spotlighting homegrown talents from Africa. Headlining the night, South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele will face Egypt’s rising contender Mahmoud Atef in a thrilling Bantamweight bout. The maiden PFL Africa event in Cape Town will precede the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai, featuring global MMA talents.

“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 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 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.”

“We are proud to partner with the Professional Fighters League to help bring PFL Africa to life. This initiative aligns with Helios’ mission to back high-growth, high-impact ventures across the continent. With the leadership of Francis Ngannou and a strong local foundation, PFL Africa has the potential to become a transformative platform for African athletes, fans, and the broader sports ecosystem,” said Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Helios Investment Partners.

About the Professional Fighters League

The Professional Fighters League is a global powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports league worldwide. PFL is the only MMA organization with the "win and advance" format. PFL is broadcast and streamed to 190 countries with 20 leading media partners.

PFL is backed by major blue-chip investors including SURJ, Ares, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, 885 capital, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners. MMA is the growth sports business of this decade, with 650 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demographic, and true global revenue streams.

You can follow the PFL through the social media handles Instagram (@PFLmma); X (formerly Twitter, @PFLMMA); Facebook (PFLmma) or through PFLmma.com.