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SA's Niedermayr and Nigeria's Ukah size each other up at PFL Africa roadshow in DRC
READY FOR BATTLE Juliet Ukah and Ceileigh Niedermayr set the tone for an exciting event in Cape Town, South Africa when they showcased their skills for fans during a PFL Africa Road Show and open workout in Kinshasa, DRC this week. Picture: PFL
Image: PFL
African MMA stars Ceileigh Niedermayr and Juliet Ukah had their first opportunity to size each other up ahead of their showcase Women's Strawweight bout in Cape Town next month.
South Africa's Niedermayr and Nigeria's Ukah will make history as the first ladies to compete in the debut event of the inaugural PFL Africa season, set to take place on July 19th at Grand West Casino and Entertainment World in the Mother City, South Africa.
This week, in Kinshasa, DRC, the Professional Fighters League had an open workout as part of a roadshow in the lead-up to the big show at the foot of Africa.
There, in front of the media and hundreds of excited MMA fans, Ukah and Niedermayr showcased their skills and ran through some training drills before facing off for the first time ahead of their highly anticipated showdown.
Ukah Excited for PFL Africa Debut: Aims to Shine in Fight Against Ceileigh
'I'm very happy to be on the first PFL Africa card, and my fight with Ceileigh is going to be an exciting one. We're going to be representing the two biggest MMA nations in Africa, and we want to help put African MMA in the global spotlight,' said the unbeaten Ukah, who is on a six-fight winning streak that includes two wins in the Extreme Fighting Championship, the leading African-based MMA promotion.
'Compared to her, I think I'm the more experienced fighter and the better striker, so I'm comfortable wherever the fight goes. I expect to get the finish, but I don't mind going to a third round if needed,' added Ukah who has gone to decision in five fights.
Niedermayr Prepares for Historic PFL Africa Women's Fight
Fellow EFC fighter and South Africa's Niedermayr, who has also previously competed at UAE Warriors and Fury Challenger Series (USA), is revelling in the moment as she looks to shine in one of the biggest MMA brands on the globe.
'It's truly an honour to be part of the first-ever PFL Africa women's fight. This fight camp isn't just about preparing for my next opponent — it's a reflection of my lifelong dedication to martial arts. I'm always pushing myself to grow, to evolve, and to become the best fighter I can be,' said Niedermayr who will be hungry to build a good innings after failing to string together a group of wins with 3 losses and two wins. (w,l,w,l,w)
'On fight night, I'm bringing a new level of 'Smiley Savagery' to the SmartCage. I have a lot of respect for Juliet as a fighter, and I welcome the chance to test myself against her, but I don't think she's ever faced anyone like me. I'm expecting an exciting, high-level battle — and I'm ready for it.'
The inaugural PFL Africa Tournament will feature eight-man brackets in each weight class, starting with the Heavyweight and Bantamweight divisions next month.
In total, 32 fighters representing 15 African nations will compete across the four PFL Africa divisions in 2025 as the league embarks on a continent-wide journey to crown the first-ever PFL Africa Champions.
PFL Africa Tournament: Nkosi Ndebele vs. Mahmoud Atef in Historic Bantamweight Semifinal
Next month's PFL Africa Tournament event will be headlined by South Africa's Nkosi Ndebele (8-3), who will face Egypt's rising contender Mahmoud Atef (5-2) in a thrilling Bantamweight Semifinal.
The arrival of the PFL will be a major boost for African MMA, as the global Mixed Martial Arts promotion is quickly becoming as popular as the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Grand West Casino and Entertainment World's Grand Arena will make history as it will become the first venue in Africa to host a major international MMA show.
The inaugural PFL Africa tournament will also set the scene and precede the PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai card, bringing the world's best MMA talent to Africa. Headlining the Champions Series event will be Johnny Eblen, who aims to remain undefeated and keep his Middleweight title when he faces Spain's Costello Van Steenis. In the co-main event, Dakota Ditcheva will face Sumiko Inaba in a Flyweight clash.
In July 2024, the PFL announced its third international league, PFL Africa, after PFL Europe and PFL MENA.
Former UFC Heavyweight and current global combat superstar, Cameroon's Francis Ngannou, is the acting chairman of the league and will also play a pivotal ambassadorial role in further growing the Professional Fighters League in the Motherland and finding and developing the next generation of African champions.
