The African chapter of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) will kick off its 2026 season with a major mixed martial arts event scheduled for April 10, 2026, at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa.

The event marks the third time the Professional Fighters League has staged a fight card in South Africa, following successful outings in Cape Town and Johannesburg in 2025.

Organisers said the 2026 season introduces a new format that will see three championship belts contested across three divisions, while each tournament winner will continue to receive the $100,000 grand prize.

The upcoming fight night will also be the first event since former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou stepped down as Chairman of PFL Africa, with the promotion now moving forward under a new independent roadmap for the continent.

A total of 22 fighters from across Africa and beyond are expected to compete in 11 bouts scheduled across the main and preliminary cards.

Main Card
Bantamweight Showcase: Nkosi Ndebele (South Africa) vs. Michele Clemente (Italy)

Heavyweight Showcase: Justin Clarke (South Africa) vs. Abdoulaye Kane (Senegal)

Welterweight Tournament (Round 1): Peace Nguphane (South Africa) vs. Yabna N’Tchala (Guinea-Bissau)

Welterweight Tournament (Round 1): Shido Boris Esperança (Angola) vs. Emilios Dassi (Cameroon)

Welterweight Tournament (Round 1): Eliezer Kubanza (DR Congo) vs. Kunle Lawal (Nigeria)

Preliminary Card
Women’s Strawweight Showcase: Juliet Ukah (Nigeria) vs. Jane Osigwe (Nigeria)

Welterweight Tournament (Round 1): Abdelrahman Mohamed (Egypt) vs. David Samuel (Nigeria)

Lightweight Showcase: Abdul Razac Sankara (Burkina Faso) vs. Aureo Cruz (Angola)

Featherweight Showcase: Shadrick Dju Yemba (Angola) vs. Jean-Jacques Lubaya (DR Congo)

Bantamweight Showcase: Shannon van Tonder (South Africa) vs. Asiashu Tshitamba (DR Congo)

Women’s Strawweight Showcase: Felista Mugo (Kenya) vs. Annet Kiiza (Uganda).

The event is expected to bring together fighters from across Africa as the promotion continues its push to grow mixed martial arts on the continent.

Nigeria emerged as the most represented nation at the 2025 Professional Fighters League (PFL) African finals, underscoring the country’s growing influence in mixed martial arts (MMA) across the continent.

Data from the tournament showed that Nigeria had more fighters competing in the finals than any other African country, highlighting the depth of talent and rapid development of the sport within the country.

The strong Nigerian presence reflected years of steady growth in combat sports, driven by grassroots training, increased international exposure, and the rising popularity of MMA among young athletes. Analysts say the country’s fighters are increasingly gaining recognition for their technical skill, athleticism, and resilience inside the cage.

If PFL Africa Finals were a test of which nation sits atop the continent’s combat sports hierarchy, Nigeria answered with a resounding roar.