Nigeria made a strong statement at the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Africa debut in Pretoria, with standout performances from its fighters headlining an action-packed night at the SunBet Arena.
Rising welterweight David Samuel kicked off his tournament campaign in emphatic fashion, submitting Abdelrahman Mohammad in the first round after dropping him multiple times with sharp boxing. Once the fight hit the mat, Samuel wasted no time securing the finish to advance with minimal damage.
In an all-Nigerian clash, Juliet Ukah edged Jane Osigwe in a tightly contested catchweight bout. Known as “Golden Bones,” Ukah controlled the center of the cage and dictated exchanges with composed counter-striking, earning a split decision victory after three competitive rounds.
However, it was a mixed outing for Nigeria in the welterweight tournament, as Guinea-Bissau’s late replacement Rivaldo Pereira stepped in on short notice to stop Kunle Lawal in the opening round.
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Pereira dropped Lawal with a body shot before sealing the win with elbows on the canvas. With the result, Pereira is now set to face Samuel in the semi-finals in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown between two dangerous finishers.
Adding to the excitement for Nigerian fans, it was announced that PFL Africa will stage its second event in West Africa on June 13 at the Eko Arena in Lagos.
Headlining the card will be Nigerian star and reigning 2025 PFL Africa Featherweight Champion Wasi Adeshina, who returns home to fight in front of a Lagos crowd for the first time under the PFL banner against Spain’s Ignacio Campos. The event will also feature Patrick Ocheme taking on Cameroonian contender Octave Ayinda in a lightweight bout.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) made its highly anticipated Pretoria debut at the SunBet Arena, delivering a night of high-level MMA action and statement performances across multiple divisions.
In the bantamweight main event, South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele thrilled the home crowd with a unanimous decision victory over Italy’s Michele Clemente in a hard-fought contest. Both fighters exchanged sharp strikes early, with Clemente pressing forward relentlessly, but Ndebele’s precise counter-striking proved decisive in what turned into an instant classic.
The heavyweight division also delivered fireworks, as Senegal’s Abdoulaye Kane and South Africa’s Justin Clarke engaged in a dramatic back-and-forth battle. Kane rocked Clarke early, leaving him bloodied, but the South African showed resilience, firing back with a powerful counter right hand that ended the fight in stunning fashion.
Angola’s Shido Boris Esperança impressed with a dominant first-round stoppage of Emilios Dassi, while South Africa’s Peace Nguphane rallied from an early scare to secure a unanimous decision win over Yabna N’Tchala, delighting the home fans.
PFL AFRICA: PRETORIA RESULTS
- Nkosi Ndebele def. Michele Clemente – Unanimous Decision
- Justin Clarke def. Abdoulaye Kane – TKO (Round 1)
- Peace Nguphane def. Yabna N’Tchala – Unanimous Decision
- Shido Boris Esperança def. Emilios Dassi – TKO (Round 1)
- Rivaldo Pereira def. Kunle Lawal – TKO (Round 1)
- Juliet Ukah def. Jane Osigwe – Split Decision
- David Samuel def. Abdelrahman Mohammad – Submission (Round 1)
- Abdoul Razac Sankara vs. Áureo Cruz – No Contest
- Shadrack Dju Yemba def. Jean-Jacques Lubaya – Split Decision
- Asiashu Tshitamba def. Shannon van Tonder – Unanimous Decision
- Felista-Mutheu Mugo def. Annet Kiiza – Unanimous Decision
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