The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has released the full lineup for its inaugural PFL Africa event scheduled for Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa. This landmark event not only marks the first global MMA event on the continent but also launches the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament, featuring heavyweight and bantamweight divisions with eight-man brackets in each.
In addition to the tournament bouts, the evening will showcase five high-stakes PFL Champions Series matchups, highlighting elite global talent. The main event features undefeated Bellator Middleweight World Champion Johnny “Pressure” Eblen (16-0) defending his title against Spain’s surging contender Costello “The Spaniard” van Steenis (16-3). The co-main event pits Women’s Flyweight phenom “Dangerous” Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) against Hawaii’s elite striker Sumiko “Lady Samurai” Inaba (8-1).
Additional notable bouts include former Bellator Featherweight Champion A.J. “Mercenary” McKee (22-2) facing rising Russian star Akhmed Magomedov (11-1), a protégé of Khabib Nurmagomedov. In a heavyweight showcase, former Bellator Light Heavyweight World Champion Corey Anderson (18-6) steps up a division to face 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion Denis Goltsov (36-8). Artur Zaynukov (16-4) returns to the PFL following an impressive showing at Battle of the Giants, aiming to extend his win streak to six, against RIZIN veteran Takeshi Izumi (6-3).
Complete PFL Africa Card:
Middleweight World Championship Main Event: Johnny Eblen (16-0) vs. Costello van Steenis(16-3)
Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) vs. Sumiko Inaba (8-1)
Featherweight Showcase Bout: AJ McKee (22-2) vs. Akhmed Magomedov (11-1)
Lightweight Showcase Bout: Artur Zaynukov (16-4) vs. Takeshi Izumi (6-3)
Heavyweight Showcase Bout: Corey Anderson (18-6) vs. Denis Goltsov (36-8)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Nkosi Ndebele (8-3) vs. Mahmoud Atef (5-2)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Maxwell Djantou Nana (6-1) vs. Mikael Groguhe (6-2)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Shannon Van Tonder (7-2) vs. Boule Godogo (3-0)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Jashell Ticha Awa (3-1) vs. Justin Clarke (2-0)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Antero Dos Santos (5-0) vs. Karim Henniene (4-0)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Abdoullah Kane (3-0) vs. Mohammed Ben Yahia (9-4)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Simbarashe Hokonya (5-0) vs. Alain Majorique (5-0)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Abraham Bably (5-2) vs. Badredinne Medkouri (7-2)
Showcase Women’s Strawweight Bout: Juliet Ukah (6-0) vs. Ceileigh Niedermayr (3-2)
