History will be made in Cape Town this July when the Professional Fighters League heads to African soil for the very first time. Regarded as one of the world’s premier mixed martial arts organizations, the promotion will debut its PFL Africa 1 event at GrandWest Arena on Saturday July 19.
South African MMA fans will have the chance to see four of their own in action fly the flag on the world’s stage in the continent’s first-ever major international event. The event will see fighters from 15 African nations competing across the Bantamweight and Heavyweight divisions to kick off the PFL Africa Tournament which will see which will see the continent's first PFL champions being crowned over a series of events.
PFL Africa aims to give African fighters the chance to showcase their talents without leaving their home countries. PFL Africa General Manager, Elias Schulze said,
Our focus is to launch a world-class inaugural season with events across the continent — starting in Cape Town. We aim to spotlight African talent on a global stage, deliver high-quality production, and ensure strong broadcast and sponsor partnerships.
Schulze insisted that the PFL are in it for the long haul:
Long-term, we want to build a sustainable, pan-African MMA ecosystem—one that nurtures talent year-round, gives fighters real career paths, and creates a commercially viable sports property across media, sponsorship, and live events.
One of the stars headlining the Cape Town card is South Africa’s own Nkosi “King” Ndebele with a record of 8-3 who will face Egypt’s Mahmoud Atef in a Bantamweight semifinal bout. Known for his striking game, Ndebele is looking to become the face of African MMA. Other promising South African fighters on the card include Shannon van Tonder, Justin Clarke, and Juliet Ukah, each stepping into the SmartCage to represent the nation against fighters from 15 African countries.
PFL Africa GM, Schulze, revealed that the success of one of Africa’s greatest fighting exports inspired this project.
Nurtured and catalyzed to life by our chairman, Francis Ngannou, was sparked by a simple but powerful truth: Africa is full of elite fighting talent and passionate fans, yet the opportunity to date hasn’t matched that incredible potential.
Schulze added that the launch of PFL Africa is a proverbial reward for South African MMA fans and their passion,
You’ve kept the sport alive through community gyms, late-night watch parties, and die-hard support and of course the incredible efforts of regional promotions who have nurtured local talent. Now, we’re building this with you in mind. This is your moment to see your fighters, your cities, and your stories on a world-class stage across Africa and beyond. Let’s grow this together!
July will mark the start of an exciting journey in African MMA with PFL “focused on making a bold statement in our first year with four marquee events across Africa, kicking off in Cape Town” according to GM Schulze.
The PFL GM elaborated on the promotion’s aim,
Our goal is to achieve unprecedented reach and engagement—across households, countries, and digital platforms—cementing PFL Africa as a premium destination for the most exciting sports experience on the continent.
Exciting times lie ahead for the MMA community in South Africa and Africa as a whole but arguably the most important factor is the fact that that passion is being matched by organizers like Elias Schulze and co. with a clear message for hungry fighters,
We’re building this league for you.
Schulze believes PFL Africa’s ambitions go hand-in-hand or in this case, pound-for-pound with that of African athletes who have been waiting for their chance.
The PFL Africa GM issued a message to young fighters on the continent,
We see the work being done in gyms across the country, often without spotlight or resources. We’re building a platform where talent, discipline, and heart matter most. You don’t need to leave the continent to make it big. We’re creating stars —right here in Africa.
