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Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Professional Fighters League aims to make MMA ‘the second sport of Africa' as fandom surges
South Africa has just hosted its biggest mixed martial arts event to date, and more are on the horizon thanks to the Professional Fighters League. South Africa hosted the biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) event the country has seen at the GrandWest Grand Arena in Cape Town on Saturday, 19 July. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) had an explosive first night in Africa with both the launch of the inaugural PFL Africa event and then the PFL Champions Series following, with 13 fights during the evening. It was a historical occasion for MMA in the country. An international fighting organisation not only hosted the biggest fighters in the world – outside the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) – but also established a local foothold to display South Africa's best to the world. South Africa has its own local MMA organisation, Elite Fighting Championship (EFC) Worldwide, founded and run by the Howarth brothers. It provides a stepping stone for regional athletes to bigger organisations. UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is an example of a star. But unlike the PFL, the EFC does not have the financial power to compete and retain talent against the UFC. One of the most distinguished women stars in MMA, England's Dakota Ditcheva – who has an undefeated 15-0 record – competes and recently signed again for the PFL despite interest from Dana White's UFC. Ditcheva featured in the co-main event on Saturday in Cape Town and completely overpowered Hawaii's Sumiko Inaba in their flyweight bout, eventually winning by judges' decision. 'That's the best walkout I've ever had,' an appreciative Ditcheva said after her win. She walked out to Freed from Desire by Gala, to which the boisterous local crowd sang and danced along. Same but different The reason for her commitment to the PFL – and that of the rest of the ever-expanding roster – is the work of its founder, chairperson and co-owner, Donn Davis. 'Most of my life I've built new companies, either as an entrepreneur or an investor, and I saw a big opportunity to build, essentially, in an underserved market,' Davis said in an exclusive interview with Daily Maverick. He explained that his ambition was to provide more 'premium' content to spectators than the UFC could offer. For a long time the UFC held the monopoly over prime MMA fights – until the establishment of the PFL in 2017. 'When I looked at the fans of MMA and the fighters of MMA and the commercial partners of MMA, I thought they're all underserved on the premium global level,' Davis said. 'There are 650 million MMA fans, but the UFC just gave them 50 premium fights a year. 'Those fans on a premium level would want more. I looked at the fighters and there were hundreds of great fighters that were all scattered around the globe at regional leagues, but they didn't have a premium global platform. And the commercial partners – a lot of them were either locked out or priced out. 'This is not a single winner-takes-all market. There'll be one more, maybe two more big companies.' The PFL is not a replica of the UFC, however – it has its own unique format. In the UFC, White almost exclusively decides who receives title shots and who faces whom across fight cards. The PFL, in contrast, uses a bracket system akin to college basketball in the US – or knockout formats in global sport – to determine which challenger will fight which opponent. 'I thought the product that would be very exciting would be a product that was a meritocracy,' Davis explained. 'Where fighters control their destiny. Single elimination. And as a fan, I thought that would be awesome too.' African foothold Saturday was the first round of the heavyweight and bantamweight classes of PFL Africa. The winners will be moving on to semifinals and then eventually the final, where each weight category's winner receives a $100,000 prize. 'One of those fighters [at the inaugural PFL Africa] is going to start on their way to be PFL African champ,' Davis said. 'They're going to win three times this year and they're going to hold up a belt and win $100,000. 'And then they're going to go up to PFL Global, the world tournament. And then they're going to win three times and they're going to hold up a belt and they're going to win $500,000. And in two years, somebody who nobody knows today, everyone will know two years from now.' But why Africa? The UFC has existed since 1993 but not hosted an event on the continent. White has flirted with the idea, but no concrete plans have materialised. The reasons for this include not having an indoor venue large enough to host the showpiece event, and the ticket prices, which, when converted, are close to R1-million. The PFL, in contrast, has now not only hosted a premium, sold-out event in South Africa, but also launched a subsidiary that looks to grow the local MMA talent. 'We're willing to invest in Africa, and they're not,' Davis said. 'They talk about it, we do it.' But that doesn't mean immediate financial gain for the PFL from the investment. 'We will occasionally get criticised,' Davis said. 'When you take a step back, we are investing and growing in the sport. We will not be profitable in Africa until our fifth year. That's if we do well. 'Until then, we're investing. We're putting money into Africa. We believe that, over time, we'll hopefully be successful. But as a builder of companies, you have to invest time, resources and money.' The 'people's league' Davis is an entrepreneur first, so he's not blindly throwing money at an investment. He's seen an untapped market in Africa that can grow into something extraordinary in the next few years. 'When you look at the two things that really matter, fans and fighters, boy, both are great,' he said. 'I think MMA can be the second sport of Africa. 'I think we could have 100 million MMA fans in Africa. And PFL Africa is going to be the people's league. Everything we're doing is to make it the people's league.' Tickets to the inaugural event sold for about R400. And although the PFL was broadcast on SuperSport, it could also be streamed online for free. '[We want] access in terms of viewership, access in terms of low ticket price, best African fighters,' Davis said. 'We want this to be the people's league. There are enough fans and the market is ready for that.' South African fans will have another opportunity to see some of the best MMA fighters in the world at the second PFL Africa event in Johannesburg on 9 August. There are also plans for two more events later this year, but the venues for those are yet to be confirmed. DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ditcheva outclasses Inaba despite hand injury
Dakota Ditcheva shrugged off an injured hand as she outclassed Sumiko Inaba to win by unanimous decision at the PFL Champions Series in South Manchester fighter never looked in danger as she pummelled Inaba throughout, before easing off in the final round after telling her corner "I've broken my hand".Inaba couldn't capitalise as Ditcheva cruised to the final bell, using kicks to keep the American at bay as she extended the unbeaten start to her career to 15."I think I injured my left hand. I think I'm gutted because I've been out for so long and then I'm injured again, but I hope you guys enjoyed it," said a teary bout was the 26-year-old's first in eight months after becoming the first British woman to win an MMA world title in had voiced her frustrations pre-fight at the eight-month lay-off but confirmed after beating Inaba she has signed a new deal with the PFL."I have just re-signed with PFL, we've come to a great agreement and I'm gonna look forward to the next few years together in front of crowds like this. You guys really set a standard," she fight card was also the first major MMA event to take place in Africa and Ditcheva paid tribute to the crowd, adding "that was the best walkout I've ever had, thank you so much". Ditcheva had been vocal about her time away from the cage in the build-up to the bout, blaming a lack of credible opponents for the cruised through the PFL flyweight tournament last year with four straight stoppages and, with many of her opponents fighting in this year's competition, saw little value in entering it was eventually paired up with Inaba based on the 34-year-old winning eight of her nine professional bouts, while Ditcheva added "there is no denying her skill level".Although Inaba showed courage and admirable durability throughout, the Briton remained a class started by pushing forward but it didn't take long for Ditcheva to initiate the clinch and take control - as she would throughout the fight - to land a number of damaging stunned Inaba in the second round with an elbow and flurry of strikes, but Inaba showed grit to take the flyweight champion to the third round for the first time in six bouts. With the crowd chanting her name, Ditcheva landed more crunching knees from the clinch before adopting a more careful approach after injuring her hand after a punch. Inaba was already too worn down to take advantage, however, as her opponent used kicks to maintain distance before showboating and cupping her ears to the crowd in the main event, Spain's Costello van Steenis beat American Johnny Eblen to win the PFL middleweight title in a remarkable Eblen seemingly heading towards a decision victory, Van Steenis secured a rear-naked choke, forcing the submission with just nine seconds of the bout remaining.
IOL News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
PFL Africa weigh-ins done, now time for all-out action in Cape Town
Ready to rumble Juliet Ukah looking strong ahead of her Showase Strawweight bout against Ceileigh Niedermayr. Photo: PFL The stage is set, the smart cage is secure, and the fighters are ready to launch a historic night of fighting in Africa! PFL Africa completed its weigh-ins last night as fans got a glimpse of this epic show that will see the brand's inaugural event rollout tonight at the Grand Arena in Grand West Casino and Entertainment World. In the main event of the PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai: Cape Town card, the PFL Middleweight World Championship is up for grabs, as defending champion Johnny 'Pressure' Eblen (16-0) of the United States faces challenger Spain's Costello 'The Spaniard' Van Steenis (16-3). Eblen weighed in at 185.0 pounds, while Van Steenis weighed in at 184.6 pounds. In the co-headlining bout of the night, undefeated 'Dangerous' Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) of the United Kingdom takes on Sumiko 'Lady Samurai' Inaba (8-1) of Hawaii in a Showcase Women's Flyweight bout. Ditcheva weighed in at 125.4 pounds, while Inaba weighed in at 124.6 pounds.
Daily Maverick
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Unprecedented MMA action as PFL Africa hosts elite fighters in Cape Town's Grand Arena
The best MMA fighters in the world are in South Africa preparing to fight in the PFL Champions Series in the Mother City, with the event doubling as the inaugural PFL Africa fixture. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is setting up shop in Africa with the PFL Africa, and it's hosting the biggest Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) event South Africa has seen thus far in its launch. The PFL competes alongside the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in terms of organisation size and calibre, with several of the worlds best MMA fighters taking to the Grand Arena at Grandwest, Cape Town, on Saturday, 19 July 2025, to compete. It's looking increasingly unlikely that UFC — in which South African middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis competes — will host an event in South Africa for the foreseeable future with operational costs, ticket prices and suitable venues an issue for the Dana White-run organisation. So for South African MMA fans, Saturday's event is the highest quality MMA event the country will see until PFL decides to return. PFL Africa launches on Saturday — PFL's third international league alongside PFL Europe and PFL Middle East and North Africa — beginning with first-round matchups in the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions. Each division will feature an eight-person bracket, with fighters advancing through semifinals and finals. The tournament will span four events across Africa and feature 24 fighters from 14 African countries. The next event is on 9 August in Johannesburg — at Top Arena, Carnival City — where the featherweight and welterweight divisions will compete. South Africa's Nkosi Ndebele's (8-3) bantamweight bout against Egypt's Mahmoud Atef (5-2) is one of a handful of mouthwatering PFL Africa clashes on Saturday. Later on Saturday night the event will be headlined by five PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai bouts — PFL's main fighting league. In the World Title main event, undefeated Middleweight World Champion Johnny Eblen (16-0) meets Spain's Costello van Steenis (16-3). In the co-main event, undefeated 2024 PFL world champion Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) takes on Hawaii's Sumiko Inaba (8-1). Headliners In the process of PFL's ongoing expansion, it also acquired another MMA organisation, Bellator MMA, in 2023. In doing so, it signed several of their stars including Saturday's star attraction Eblen. 'Being part of the global expansion for the PFL is really fun,' Eblen said at the media day on Wednesday. 'Me and my wife get to travel the world. 'It's fun to see the world, see different cultures and see fighting spread. At the end of the day it's what we want to do, and the PFL has been a big staple for that, and I'm happy to be a part of it. 'What's attractive about it is that they can bring in new guys for me to fight. '[PFL] is really good at raising money and getting things going. I'm fighting in Africa now, I fought in Saudi Arabia twice, before that I was mainly fighting in the States, which was fun but I also like travelling.' It's Eblen's first time in South Africa. The middleweight star has spent two weeks in the country to acclimatise and get over the time difference. But in the time he's been in the Mother City, he's also had his phone stolen. 'We were in an Uber, my window was down in the city centre in a bad area and someone snatched my phone,' he said, although admitting that it was down to his own negligence. 'But that would happen anywhere, that would happen in the US in a bad area.' His opponent on Saturday night, Van Steenis, was adamant that he would break Eblen's unbeaten run, claiming he would end the bout in the second round. Eblen's response was short and to the point: 'No, he's not.' Although the 33-year-old did outline that Van Steenis is a top athlete, he's confident he'll retain his middleweight crown against the Spaniard. 'He's an aggressive, athletic guy, he goes for the finish, but that's really it,' Eblen said. 'Every guy I've fought has that ability. He's nothing different to what I've seen from any other opponent. Just a different guy on a different day. I've got better.'
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
How to watch PFL Champions\u00a0Series: Africa – Who's fighting, lineup, start time, odds
For the first time, the PFL has set up shop in Africa for a PFL Champions Series event at the southern tip of the continent in Cape Town, South Africa. Here's how to watch PFL Champions Series: Africa with lineups, fight info and more. Broadcast and streaming info PFL Champions Series: Africa takes place Saturday at GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa. The card streams on ESPN+ at 5 p.m. ET and features a middleweight title fight at the top of the lineup. Main event: Johnny Eblen Main event: Costello van Steenis Co-main event: Dakota Ditcheva Co-main event: Sumiko Inaba PFL Champions Series: Africa lineup (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET) Preview videos
