Panorama Sports
- The inaugural PFL Africa Tournament Semifinals for the Heavyweight, Welterweight, Featherweight, and Bantamweight divisions are set for October 18 in Kigali, Rwanda.
- Rwanda’s James Opio set to thrill the Kigali crowd in a Showcase Featherweight bout with Uganda’s Isaac Omeda.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced the full lineup for the first-ever PFL Africa Semi-finals, set for Saturday, October 18, at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
After announcing the first four marquee fights, including the main and co-main event, the Professional Fighters League has now confirmed the entire PFL Rwanda card with seven additional action-packed bouts guaranteed to electrify African MMA fans. This historic event marks the biggest MMA showcase ever staged in East Africa, underscoring Rwanda’s growing reputation as a premier destination for world-class sports and entertainment.
Powered by the global brand Tour Rwanda, the vibrant nation continues to position itself on the international stage by hosting world-renowned artists and concerts, international festivals, and elite sports competitions. By bringing the PFL Africa Semifinals to Kigali, PFL adds mixed martial arts to that list of milestone moments—reaffirming “The Land of a Thousand Hills” as a hub of culture, sport, and innovation. This event represents a landmark moment for global MMA, as the PFL integrates Africa into its fastest-growing international league, empowering African athletes with a global platform and life-changing opportunities.
After two electrifying events in Cape Town and Johannesburg, Africa’s top Bantamweight, Featherweight, Welterweight, and Heavyweight athletes will now descend upon Kigali with their sights set on Benin, where the inaugural PFL Africa champions will be crowned in December.
PFL Rwanda will feature 11 fights in total: eight semi-final bouts, two alternate bouts, and one showcase fight.
Opening the semifinals, Nigeria’s Wasi Adeshina (8-3) meets Liberia’s Dwight Joseph (15-2) in a Featherweight showdown. Both fighters secured their semifinal slots in Johannesburg last month, with Adeshina defeating Jean Jacques Lubaya and Joseph stopping Wilker Nsamo.
In the Welterweight division, Guinea-Bissau’s Yabna “The Panther” N’tchala (12-2-1) looks to extend his dominance and move one step closer to glory. Across from him stands Emilios Dassi (5-1) of Cameroon, a product of the Francis Ngannou Foundation who carries frightening knockout power reminiscent of his countryman, Ngannou himself.
In Bantamweight action, the undefeated Boule Godogo (4-0) of the DRC, fresh off a major upset win against Shannon van Tonder (7-3), meets Algeria’s Karim “The Kryptonian” Henniene (5-0) in a classic “someone’s 0 must go” matchup — set to deliver elite grappling exchanges.
The Heavyweight division features a clash of power as Ivory Coast’s Abraham “The One and Only” Bably (6-2) squares off against Nigeria’s Joffie Houlton (8-4). These two athletes will set the stage in the first Heavyweight semi-final before their counterparts collide, as Cameroon’s Maxwell Djantou Nana (7-1) meets undefeated South African Justin Clarke (3-0) with a coveted spot in the Championship round on the line.
A special treat is on the cards for Rwandans as one of the nation’s own sons, James Opio (2-1) – an exciting finisher with one TKO and one submission – aims to stamp down his authority when he meets an unbeaten mixed martial artist in Uganda’s Isaac Omeda (2-0) in a Showcase Featherweight Bout.
In the co-main event, South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele (9-3) — known as the “King of Many Nations” and a former BRAVE CF Bantamweight champion — looks to take another step toward gold. He faces undefeated Zimbabwean prospect Simbarashe Hokonya (6-0), a dangerous contender who trains alongside Nicholas Hwende, the very fighter who once dethroned Ndebele.
Headlining the card, Nigeria’s unorthodox Featherweight star Patrick Ocheme (7-1) meets Burkina Faso’s dynamic striker Abdoul Razac Sankara (7-4), who rides into the matchup with momentum from a “Knockout of the Night” performance in Johannesburg.
Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global powerhouse in MMA and the fastest-growing sports league world-wide. PFL is the only MMA organization with the “win and advance” tournament format. PFL has three fight products: PFL World Tournament, PFL Champions Series, and PFL International Leagues.
PFL is broadcast and streamed live to 190 countries with 20 leading media partners. PFL is backed by major blue-chip investors including SURJ, Ares, 885 Capital, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, Elysian Park Ventures, and numerous NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS team owners. MMA is the growth and global sport business of this decade, with 650 million fans worldwide, the youngest audience demographic, and true global revenue streams.
