The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is set to ignite the African mixed martial arts scene with its second PFL Africa event, scheduled for August 9th at the Big Top Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa. Headlining the event is a highly anticipated featherweight clash between Nigeria’s Patrick Ocheme and Guinea’s Mohamed Camara. This matchup pits two of West Africa’s top fighters against each other, raising the stakes as the inaugural PFL Africa tournament continues its quest to crown the first-ever African champions. The Johannesburg event follows the historic debut of PFL Africa in Cape Town on July 19th, which featured Nigerian policewoman and multi-talented combat athlete Juliet Ukah in the main event. Both events are part of a larger campaign spanning the continent, showcasing the depth and breadth of African MMA talent.
The Johannesburg card promises another electrifying night of action in the SmartCage. The co-main event features Angola’s Shido Boris Esperanca, fresh off a victory in his PFL debut, taking on Gambia’s Ibrahima Mané in a welterweight bout. Esperanca’s return to the PFL stage further solidifies the organization’s commitment to showcasing returning talent and building narratives around emerging stars. The card will primarily focus on the welterweight and featherweight divisions, highlighting the diverse skillsets and fighting styles prevalent within African MMA. Fans can anticipate a thrilling display of technical prowess, raw power, and strategic combat as these athletes battle for supremacy and a chance to advance in the tournament.
Tickets for the PFL Africa Johannesburg event are available via TicketPro, and organizers are encouraging fans to secure their seats early to witness this historic showcase of African mixed martial arts. The event is expected to draw a large crowd, eager to witness the burgeoning talent emerging from the continent. The PFL’s commitment to providing a platform for African fighters is evident in the scale and scope of these events, which aim to elevate the sport within the region and attract global attention to the rising stars of African MMA.
The PFL Africa tournament boasts an ambitious structure, featuring 32 fighters representing 15 African nations competing across four weight divisions throughout 2025. This long-term commitment underscores the PFL’s investment in nurturing the growth of MMA in Africa and providing sustained opportunities for local talent to shine. Additional matchups for the Johannesburg card will be announced shortly, further fueling anticipation and excitement for the upcoming event. The diversity of nations represented in the tournament highlights the continent’s vast pool of untapped potential and the PFL’s dedication to inclusivity and representation.
Prior to the Johannesburg event, the inaugural PFL Africa event took place in Cape Town on July 19th. This event marked a significant milestone for African MMA, providing a platform for local athletes to showcase their skills on a global stage. The Cape Town event featured Juliet Ukah, a Nigerian policewoman and accomplished combat athlete, in the headline bout, demonstrating the PFL’s commitment to showcasing diverse and inspiring stories within the sport. Ukah is scheduled to face her opponent, South Africa’s Ceileigh Niedermayr, in a Women’s Strawweight Showcase Bout. The two fighters met in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, for an open workout on June 25th, giving fans a glimpse of the talent and determination on display in the PFL Africa series.
The PFL Africa series represents a groundbreaking initiative to develop and showcase the continent’s rich mixed martial arts talent. By providing a platform for African fighters to compete at the highest level, the PFL is not only fostering the growth of the sport within the region but also contributing to the global MMA landscape. The series aims to crown the organization’s first African champions, further cementing the continent’s place on the world MMA map. This initiative underscores the PFL’s commitment to expanding the reach of MMA and recognizing the immense potential within Africa’s burgeoning fighting scene. Through these events, the PFL aims to empower African athletes, create opportunities for economic development within the region, and inspire a new generation of MMA fighters across the continent.
