PFL Africa's $400,000 Jackpot: Who Will Be Crowned First Champions of Richest Fights in African MMA History?

Fighters across four weight divisions will walk into the Sofitel Dome with dreams, but only four will leave with a life-changing $100,000 prize, championship gold, and a pathway straight into the elite PFL global circuit.

This event isn’t just another fight night. It’s a continental milestone, a legacy night with Africa centre stage. African MMA is standing at the doorstep of its most definitive moment yet and the numbers tell the story. PFL’s $400,000 championship purse is officially the largest prize ever offered in an MMA event on African soil.

For decades, African fighters chased opportunities abroad. But now, the world’s attention is shifting back home. The dream is happening here under African lights, in front of an African crowd.

With athletes from over 15 African nations already having competed in the league and more than 30 countries to go, this season feels less like an event and more like a continental roll call.

Bantamweight Championship

Nkosi Ndebele (10-3, South Africa) – “King of Many Nations” vs. Karim Henniene (6-0, Algeria) – “The Kryptonian”

Nkosi Ndebele’s Road to the Final:

• PFL Africa 2 (Johannesburg) – Quarterfinal: Unanimous decision vs. Tlholo Ledwaba.

• PFL Africa 3 (Rwanda) – Semifinal: Split decision vs. Simbarashe Hokonya.

Karim Henniene’s Road to the Final:

• PFL Africa 2 (Johannesburg) – Quarterfinal: Submitted Rachid Achour in 1:30 (rear-naked choke).

• PFL Africa 3 (Rwanda) – Semifinal: KO via flying knee vs. opponent in Round 3.

Welterweight Championship

Shido Boris Esperança (11-1, Angola) – “The Machine” vs. Yabna N’Tchala (13-2-1, Guinea-Bissau) – “The Black Panther”

Shido Esperança’s Road to the Final:

• PFL Africa 1 (Cape Town) – Quarterfinal: Submitted Ibrahima Mane in 34 seconds (rear-naked choke).

• PFL Africa 3 (Rwanda) – Semifinal: First-round TKO vs. Octave Ayinda (ground-and-pound).

Yabna N’Tchala’s Road to the Final:

• PFL Africa 2 (Johannesburg) – Quarterfinal: Unanimous decision vs. Sanon Sadeck.

• PFL Africa 3 (Rwanda) – Semifinal: Overcame early knockdown vs. Emilios Dassi; dominated Rounds 2–3 with takedowns and ground-and-pound.

Heavyweight ChampionshipJustin

Clarke (4-0, South Africa) – “The Relentless”vs. Abraham Bably (7-2, Ivory Coast) – “The One and Only”

Justin Clarke’s Road to the Final:

• PFL Africa 2 (Johannesburg) – Quarterfinal: TKO (Doctor Stoppage) vs. Jashell Ticha.

• PFL Africa 3 (Rwanda) – Semifinal: Opponent verbally submitted Round 3 vs. Maxwell Djantou Nana.

Abraham Bably’s Road to the Final:

• PFL Africa 1 (Cape Town) – Quarterfinal: KO vs. Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze (first KO in PFL Africa history).

• PFL Africa 3 (Rwanda) – Semifinal: First-round TKO vs. Joffie Houlton (ground-and-pound).

Featherweight Championship

Alain Majorique (6-0, Cameroon) – “African Assassin” vs. Wasi Adeshina (9-3, Nigeria) – “The Nigerian Jaguar”

Alain Majorique’s Road to the Final:

• Originally booked as a showcase bout.

• PFL Africa 3 (Rwanda) – Semifinal (promoted due to opponent weight miss): Unanimous decision vs. Mohamed Camara (precise striking + takedowns).

Wasi Adeshina’s Road to the Final:

• PFL Africa 3 (Rwanda) – Quarterfinal: Second-round submission vs. Jean-Jacques Lubaya (rear-naked choke).

• PFL Africa 3 (Rwanda) – Semifinal: Dominated Dwight Joseph via unanimous decision (elite wrestling and top control).

• Women’s Strawweight Showcase: Juliet Ukah (7-0, Nigeria) vs. Maryam Gaber (3-0, Egypt)

• Light Heavyweight Showcase: Styve Ngono (6-1, Cameroon) vs. Mélèdje Yedoh (1-0, Ivory Coast)

• Lightweight Showdown: Jean Do Santos (9-1, Angola) vs. Cornel Thompson (10-3, South Africa)

• Heavyweight Showcase: Abdoulaye Kane (4-1, Senegal) vs. Jashell Ticha Awa (3-2, Cameroon)

• Welterweight Showcase: Mouhamed Ba (3-1, Senegal) vs. British Boloyoang (3-2, South Africa)

• Bantamweight Alternate: Boule Godogo (4-1, Cameroon) vs. Thimna Mhlauli (5-0, South Africa)

• Welterweight Clash: Eliezer Kubanza (7-1, DRC) vs. Francois “Mozou” Ahizi (4-2, Ivory Coast)

• Women’s Strawweight Showcase: Shelda Chipito (0-0, Zimbabwe) vs. Miracle Andrew (1-1, Nigeria)

PFL Africa isn’t just crowning champions; it’s crowning history. The $100,000 prize money is more than a payday; it’s a life reset. For many fighters, this level of support opens doors.

As one of the coaches put it: “This isn’t prize money. It’s momentum.”PFL Africa is planting a flag and declaring: African MMA is no longer waiting for permission, we’re building our own empire.

Unlike one-off promotions, PFL Africa uses a league format:

• Point system

• Regular season

• Eliminations

• Semifinals

• Grand Finals

It’s clean, structured, and fair, the perfect system for a continent with massive, scattered talent. No politics. No backdoor matchmaking. You don’t beg for a title shot here; you earn it.

The Sofitel Dome is set to become a landmark in African MMA history, with thousands of fans travelling to Cotonou to witness the action live.

This isn’t just the first PFL Africa finals. This is the night African MMA shifts from ambition to era. On December 20, four fighters will turn dreams into documentation, their names stamped into African MMA history forever.