Latest news with #GrandArena
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'It's been difficult' - the champion who ran out of challengers
PFL Champions Series: Dakota Ditcheva v Sumiko Inaba Date: Saturday, 19 July Venue: Grand Arena, Cape Town, South Africa When Dakota Ditcheva became the first British woman to win an MMA world title, she had no idea of the frustration that would follow. After the 26-year-old's historic win over Taila Santos in the PFL flyweight final - her fourth victory in a golden 2024 - she had all the momentum. Congratulations poured in from icons of women's MMA, including Amanda Nunes, Cris Cyborg and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, but soon the narrative would develop. The question starting to form on everybody's lips after that career-high moment in November was "what's next?". Ditcheva was ready to fight anyone, but the dominant way in which she had dispatched her opponents - including three first-round stoppages and one in the second round - meant there were no worthy challengers left in the promotion. "Obviously, with me walking through them last year it's made it difficult," Ditcheva tells BBC Sport. "It's definitely frustrating. I did so well last year - I fought in the cage four times and obviously the last one was a big one and drew a lot of attention, but now I felt like my momentum had kind of dropped off. "Santos was the top girl in the division and the fact I walked through her so easily is another thing which made this year so difficult. They [the PFL] didn't know which direction to put me in." Manchester's Ditcheva is under contract with the PFL so cannot freely join another promotion to seek new challengers. Ditcheva says she considered entering the PFL's flyweight tournament again this year, but she declined because many of the fighters involved competed in 2024. She points to this year's flyweight tournament finalist Jena Bishop, who Ditcheva knocked out in the first round last August, as an example. "I wanted to fight the next level and keep moving up, so that's been the tough thing this year," said Ditcheva. After all the waiting, the PFL has matched Ditcheva with American Sumiko Inaba, with the pair set to fight at the Champions Series in Cape Town, South Africa on Saturday. With the majority of her theoretically possible opponents competing in the flyweight tournament, Ditcheva says Inaba was selected based on her winning eight of her nine fights and "there's no denying her skill level". It remains to be seen how much of a threat the 34-year-old from Hawaii will present. This event marks the first time a major MMA show has taken place in Africa. Despite being frustrated by the eight-month wait to secure an opponent, Ditcheva can see a positive to her time away from the cage - the buzz of anticipation for her return to action. Her elite striking has led to 12 knockouts in 14 fights, making Ditcheva one of the most exciting British fighters around. "I fought four times last year which gave people a lot, but now I feel they're all waiting for me to fight," said Ditcheva. "I'm trying to see it as people are looking forward to seeing me fight more now because I've been out for so long." Inaba last competed in September 2024, beating Mackenzie Stiller. "She's been around longer than I have. I don't know whether she is the fight I would have chosen, but then again I don't know what fight I would have chosen," said Ditcheva. "I'm just happy they were able to give me a fight. I'm looking forward to it and I'm expecting a tough fight." Ditcheva and Inaba compete in what is billed as the co-main event at the Grand Arena, with American Johnny Eblen defending his middleweight title against Spain's Costello van Steenis in the headline fight. Eblen is the reigning Bellator middleweight champion, last defending it against Fabian Edwards in October last year, but the brand has since been dissolved after the PFL acquired it during a merger in 2023. To replace the Bellator title, the PFL has manufactured a new belt to give to the winner. The Nigerian corporal making MMA history for Africa MMA schedule and results 2025 Watch every Born to Brawl episode More MMA from the BBC Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'It's been difficult' - the champion who ran out of challengers
PFL Champions Series: Dakota Ditcheva v Sumiko InabaDate: Saturday, 19 July Venue: Grand Arena, Cape Town, South Africa When Dakota Ditcheva became the first British woman to win an MMA world title, she had no idea of the frustration that would the 26-year-old's historic win over Taila Santos in the PFL flyweight final - her fourth victory in a golden 2024 - she had all the poured in from icons of women's MMA, including Amanda Nunes, Cris Cyborg and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, but soon the narrative would question starting to form on everybody's lips after that career-high moment in November was "what's next?".Ditcheva was ready to fight anyone, but the dominant way in which she had dispatched her opponents - including three first-round stoppages and one in the second round - meant there were no worthy challengers left in the promotion."Obviously, with me walking through them last year it's made it difficult," Ditcheva tells BBC Sport."It's definitely frustrating. I did so well last year - I fought in the cage four times and obviously the last one was a big one and drew a lot of attention, but now I felt like my momentum had kind of dropped off."Santos was the top girl in the division and the fact I walked through her so easily is another thing which made this year so difficult. They [the PFL] didn't know which direction to put me in." Manchester's Ditcheva is under contract with the PFL so cannot freely join another promotion to seek new says she considered entering the PFL's flyweight tournament again this year, but she declined because many of the fighters involved competed in points to this year's flyweight tournament finalist Jena Bishop, who Ditcheva knocked out in the first round last August, as an example."I wanted to fight the next level and keep moving up, so that's been the tough thing this year," said Ditcheva. After all the waiting, the PFL has matched Ditcheva with American Sumiko Inaba, with the pair set to fight at the Champions Series in Cape Town, South Africa on the majority of her theoretically possible opponents competing in the flyweight tournament, Ditcheva says Inaba was selected based on her winning eight of her nine fights and "there's no denying her skill level". It remains to be seen how much of a threat the 34-year-old from Hawaii will event marks the first time a major MMA show has taken place in being frustrated by the eight-month wait to secure an opponent, Ditcheva can see a positive to her time away from the cage - the buzz of anticipation for her return to elite striking has led to 12 knockouts in 14 fights, making Ditcheva one of the most exciting British fighters around."I fought four times last year which gave people a lot, but now I feel they're all waiting for me to fight," said Ditcheva."I'm trying to see it as people are looking forward to seeing me fight more now because I've been out for so long." Inaba last competed in September 2024, beating Mackenzie Stiller."She's been around longer than I have. I don't know whether she is the fight I would have chosen, but then again I don't know what fight I would have chosen," said Ditcheva."I'm just happy they were able to give me a fight. I'm looking forward to it and I'm expecting a tough fight."Ditcheva and Inaba compete in what is billed as the co-main event at the Grand Arena, with American Johnny Eblen defending his middleweight title against Spain's Costello van Steenis in the headline is the reigning Bellator middleweight champion, last defending it against Fabian Edwards in October last year, but the brand has since been dissolved after the PFL acquired it during a merger in replace the Bellator title, the PFL has manufactured a new belt to give to the winner.
Time Out
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
CeCe Winans
Instagram | Cece Winans Instagram photo Fifteen-time Grammy winner CeCe Winans will perform in Cape Town on 22 August at Grand Arena, GrandWest, as part of her largest international worship tour to date. The setlist will include music from her latest album More Than This , featuring the acclaimed singles 'That's My King' and 'Come Jesus Come.' Fri, 22 Aug 2025 By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. 🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed! Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Discover Time Out original video
The South African
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Festival season, what is the hottest ticket in town?
Festival season is upon us, and there is a myriad of worthwhile events to go to. A number of our best festivals will, as they tend to have some international performances for us to revel in. But what is the hottest ticket in town so far? Last week, Eswatini was ablaze with the MTN Bushfire festival taking place. Niche performers are combined with more commercial acts to create an atmosphere that is hard to convey unless you have been there. The Cape Town Jazz Festival also made its long-awaited return this year. Acts like Masego returned to a South African stage alongside American vocalist Ari Lennox and UK acid jazz frontiersmen Incognito. It was a memorable way to kick off the festival season. There still, however, remain a few worthy festivals and concerts that are yet to take place. Concerts are just as important during festival season. Kenny G is quite the polarising figure. Lovers of the avant-garde would consider this soft serve music, but the man has carved out a career spanning more than five decades. Starting professionally at the tender age of 17 in 1973 as a sideman for Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra , he has since amassed hits like Forever In Love, Songbird and Going Home. He is still very much regarded as a high-level performer. Kenny G will be live in concert at the Durban ICC on October 1, 2025, the Grand Arena and the Grand West, in Cape Town on October 2, 2025, as well as The SunBet Arena, Times Square, Pretoria, on October 4, 2025. The Astroworld tragedy that happened on 5 November 2021, in Houston, might still be on the back of your mind. As murky as that might have been, Travis Scott concerts have grown in popularity and notoriety. From his raucous antics on stage and intense hold over audiences, this might be the one ticket that beats them all. Scott has been here before, back when Joburg had a world-class venue for such events, he has pyrotechnics shoot out above the crowd. He did away with the barriers separating the Golden Circle from general access and encouraged fans to mosh. This was all while dispensing timid tracks like Goosebumps. His second coming might be better because of the music he will be armed with. Can you imagine what might happen as soon as Sicko Mode rings out? What about Fein? Fans of his will be delighted, and purists who enjoy the energy of hip hop might also find some comfort in his arrival. This could be the highlight of festival season. He will be performing in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at FNB Stadium as part of his Circus Maximus Tour . Rocking The Daisies announced that singer and songwriter Summer Walker will be their tent pole performer this year. Daisies has always aimed at more new age soul and R&B acts, and Walker might be among the best they have ever presented. Walker ascended to fame from Atlanta, Georgia, with her 2018 mixtape Last Day of Summer . This housed hits like Girls Need Love , a song so popular it received a Drake remix. which later got a remix with Drake. Her first offering, Over It (2019), shattered streaming milestones for female R&B artists. Her sophomore album, Still Over It (2021), peaked at number 1 on the Billboard 200. The festival will take place from October 2 to 5, 2025, at Cloof Wine Estate in Cape Town, with more acts to be announced. Even though this festival has shortened its duration, its line-up remains one of the more formidable ones this year. The unexpected change in the event's running order has not affected ticket holders. You can Paint The Town Red with Doja Cat if that's your thing. Central Cee will be doing up the road with UK grime raps. It is refreshing to have an artist from this fraternity of hip hop, as the UK has a plethora of intriguing artists, and hopefully, more of them will make their way down south. Leon Thomas and the music he created on his album, Mutt. There isn't much more to say about that. If you have experienced his debut project, then you will have an understanding of just how potent it is. Another of the more worthwhile artists on this list. A few festivals have yet to announce which exotic talents they might host. DStv Delicious Food and Music Festival was enjoyable last year with Busta Rhymes, Janet Jackson, and Jason Derulo as the headliners. Back To The City Hip Hop Festival always ensures hip-hop heads are catered for. Last year, they had New York-based rapper Benny The Butcher on their main stage, and his music had the crowd pulsating. Hopefully, more artists will be added to some of these rosters as festival season progresses. There is quite a fair amount to choose from. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Don Vino returns for Saxy Vibes 7: a night of rhythm, dance and soul
Be sure to be entertained at this years Saxy Vibes Image: Facebook Donveno 'Don Vino' Prins returns to centre stage with the highly anticipated Saxy Vibes 7, taking place on 14 June 2025 at the Grand Arena, GrandWest Casino. The show promises a powerful night of rhythm, soul, and that signature sax appeal audiences have come to love. Now in its seventh year, Saxy Vibes has become a standout event in Cape Town's live music calendar — a celebration of both high-energy dance hits and moving, heartfelt ballads. 'We ease in gently and build as the night goes on,' Don Vino shared. 'The real magic lies in taking the audience through all those emotional layers.' This year's lineup is nothing short of stellar. It brings together South African powerhouses like the soulful Judith Sephuma, Cape Town's dancefloor queen Salome, the classic R&B group The Blak Ties, singer-songwriter Amy Jones, and the ever-popular DJ Jazzy D. Holding it all together is Don Vino himself, whose smooth saxophone style is the heart of the experience. 'There's no blueprint I follow,' he reflected about the line-up. 'The show almost builds itself. I'll start with one artist, then another feels right, and then it all just starts to take shape, its like the music gees leads me.' For years, Don Vino performed behind the scenes as a backing musician for legends like Alistair Izobell, Loyiso Bala, David Kramer, and Jonathan Butler. Stepping into the spotlight he however admitted wasn't part of a grand plan — it was simply a leap of faith. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'I never imagined leading a show like this, never mind selling out an arena,' he admitted. 'I just thought — let's try it and see where it goes, that was in 2018 and now we're here in 2025 with the seventh installement.' That leap led to something extraordinary. With a devoted fanbase —Don Vino proudly refers to them as the Saxy Vibers — cheering him on at every turn, the journey from sideman to showman has been both humbling and electrifying. 'They're with me every step of the way,' he said warmly. 'Sometimes I'll be mid-performance and I'll see messages coming through from them about the next show. It's wild.' Don Vino will be centre stage at this years Saxy Vibes 7 Image: Facebook From his first international gig in 2005 to a career rooted in collaboration and authenticity, Don Vino has always let the music guide the way. 'The stage is where we're most exposed,' he said. 'It's a vulnerable space — but it's also where real connection happens.' Beyond the music, Don Vino is passionate about opening doors for young and up-and-coming musicians — a challenge he knows well. 'For singers, building a solo fanbase is easier,' he explained. 'For an instrumentalist like me, often classified as jazz, it took harder work to stand out and fill venues. 'However social media has played a huge role in breaking down barriers, people got to know me, and understand that playing the Sax is not just jazz, but can take you down different avenues of music.' Don Vino has also actively championed young talent through Saxy Vibes. Last year's show featured 12-year-old saxophonist Graigan Mentoor, who has since performed in the UK and appeared on radio interviews. 'His performance schedule really took off — that's exactly the kind of breakthrough we want to create.' To foster even more talent, Don Vino is running a talent search competition alongside Saxy Vibes 7. The contest attracted 70 entrants, with the competition closing on 28 May. This Friday, the top 20 will be announced, followed by weekly eliminations to the top 10, top 5, and finally the top 2. The winner will earn the incredible opportunity to perform on the Saxy Vibes stage.
