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IOL News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
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.
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Kevin Lerena Promotes Fistic Havoc: A New Era for African Boxing
BOYD Allen will be headlining the bill of the Aquilla Boxing Promotions hosted Fistic Havoc at the Sandton Convention Centre. | Supplied It is a fight that excites Lerena: 'This fight speaks to everything we're trying to do at Aquila. It's about opportunity, it's about quality matchups, and it's about putting African talent on a bigger stage. We don't want to just put on fights, we want to raise the standard. If you're fighting under the Aquila banner, it means you're part of something bigger.' Allen, a former Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) superstar takes on Botswana's undefeated Kagiso Bagwasi with the IBO All Africa Super Welterweight title at stake. To be headlined by the fast-improving Boyd Allen, whose switch from Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) to boxing has been phenomenal, the eight-fight bill promises to be a thrilling affair. The fledgling promotions company has been steadily carving out a new lane for local boxing, one that respects tradition but demands excellence. And this latest offering on June 21 speaks to exactly that. FRESH FROM successfully defending his WBC Bridgerweight title, Kevin Lerena trades the gloves for a suit this month in his role as promoter when his Aquilla Boxing Promotions hosts Fistic Havoc at the Sandton Convention Centre. It is what Allen wanted when he made the switch of sport – he took a rare move for a competitor, he abandoned the world of success and started anew. "I wanted it to be consistent. I wasn't looking for the sporadic flashy matchup. I wanted to construct something again.' And he has done exactly that alright, the man who had built up a 16-6-1 MMA record in featherweight and lightweight fights chalking up eight victories with a draw and a defeat in the sweet science of boxing. 'He's not a crossover guy, he's a total pro," Lerena says. "What Boyd's accomplished is a one-off. He did not just show up- he evolved. This is his new normal.' On paper, Allen is ring-wise. He's been tested. He's been around the block a few times. He's fought under adversity. But facing him in the ring will be a real headache – Bagwasi is a rising star from across the border with an impressive unbeaten record in his six fights – three of which he won by stoppages. His explosive first-round knockout of Almighty Moyo in March raised eyebrows across the region and made him a serious title contender. For Allen, the mission is clear: win the belt, silence any lingering doubts, and continue building toward a legacy not just as an MMA standout, but as a legitimate boxing force. He's not chasing hype — he's chasing greatness. 'This fight is important,' Allen has said. 'Not just for the title, but for everything I've put into this sport since stepping away from MMA. I'm all in.' Also all in are the backers of Lerena and Aquila Boxing Promotions, a fact the man they call Two Guns is quick to acknowledge. "We're beyond grateful to have powerhouse partners in our corner, the kind who don't just support the vision, they supercharge it. Massive thanks to my sponsors: World Sports Betting, Tigris Wealth, Supersport, JCP Steel, and HP. Without your backing, this event wouldn't be the premier, high-calibre showcase it is today. You don't just elevate the event — you define it." Boyd will be out to define his already blossoming career on fight night.
eNCA
10-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
EFC announces private equity investment
JOHANNESBURG - Africa's largest mixed-martial arts federation, Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), has secured Private Equity Investment to the value of $2-million. This investment follows several similar high-profile investments by alternative capital into sport, such as in SA and international rugby, Formula One, English football and the Tour de France. What does the cash injection mean for the EFC? For more on this, we are joined by EFC President Cairo Howarth and two-time EFC middleweight champion, Gareth McLellan.
The Citizen
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Alberton-trained fighters sign contracts to compete in EFC fight competitions
Two Alberton-trained fighters recently signed contracts to compete in the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC). Coenie 'The Prophecy' Lamprecht and Bryn 'Soul Proprietor' Gwavava are from Valhalla MMA and Fitness Academy in Alberton North. 'We could not be prouder of both Coenie and Bryn, they have both put in an immense number of hours in preparation for their fights which many people do not see, as they work through minor injuries, fatigue and muscular strain to name a few,' said a proud Shane Carr (Valhalla head coach) in reaction to the news of his boys' signings to EFC. The EFC is renowned for its professionalism and has incredibly talented athletes on their roster. EFC's events are broadcast live on SuperSport Action almost every month and attract a massive viewership across the world. With the EFC being the top tier fight promoters in South Africa, many athletes seek contract under brand, and not all achieve this as the EFC only signs the best to add on their roster. EFC held a Contender Series in March to allow amateur athletes to showcase their skill sets in the EFC cage, with hopes of signing them to the promotion. The fight card on the evening saw both Lamprecht and Gwavava compete for the coveted contracts. Lamprecht won his bout convincingly in a clinical and technical performance, securing him a contract. Gwavava, however, faced a high-level opponent and unfortunately lost his bout, but managed to still put on a very technical three-round performance, making his bout one of the best fights of the night and securing him an EFC contract too, after impressing the EFC matchmakers Lamprecht and Gwavava started their training at Valhalla MMA doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA across many competitions in South Africa. Many local MMA fighters dream of competing at the level of the globally recognised mixed martial arts EFC Company. 'The life of a fighter is no walk in the park, but once they are under the bright lights and that cage door closes, it is worth every drop of sweat. Both these guys deserve their contracts, and their futures are brighter than ever,' added coach Carr. If you would like to train with high-level athletes or just want to get into shape, contact coach Shane Carr on 083 7222 704 or email shane@ You can also follow them @valhallaMMASA across all social media platforms. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
