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
Image: 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.
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Penalty South Africa's Shannon van Tonder was the only fighter to miss weight and will now forfeit 20 percent of his purse to his opponent. Photo: PFL
Image: PFL
Also on the card, former Bellator Featherweight Champion AJ “Mercenary” McKee (22-2) of the United States weighed in at 146.0 pounds, while Russia’s Akhmed Magomedov (11-1, 1NC) weighed in at 145.4 pounds for their Showcase Featherweight Bout.
Plus, the first round action of the PFL Africa tournaments begins, as the best Bantamweights and Heavyweights in Africa look to move closer to championship gold.
The only fighter who failed to make weight was South Africa’s Shannon van Tonder ahead of his Bantamweight tournament clash with DRC athlete Boule Godogo. Van Tonder will now forfeit 20 percent of his fight purse to Godogo.
The 2025 PFL Africa Tournament will include four events across Africa, featuring 32 fighters from 15 African countries, all chasing PFL gold (in four different divisions) and an opportunity to open bigger doors within the PFL business model.
Today, at the Grand Arena, some of Africa's best Bantamweights and Heavyweights will aim to advance to the semi-finals and finals, which will take place later this year.
The show starts at 4 pm SAST.
PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai: Cape Town Card:
Grand Arena at GrandWest, Cape Town, South Africa
SuperSport (Africa - English) | Canal+ (Africa - French)
ESPN + (U.S.) | DAZN (France, UK & Ireland)
Saturday, 19 July
PFL Middleweight World Championship Main Event: Johnny Eblen (185 lbs.) vs. Costello van Steenis (184.6 lbs.)
Showcase Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Dakota Ditcheva (125.4 lbs.) vs. Sumiko Inaba (124.6 lbs.)
Showcase Featherweight Bout: AJ McKee (146 lbs.) vs. Akhmed Magomedov (145.4 lbs.)
Showcase Lightweight Bout: Artur Zaynukov (155.6 lbs.) vs. Takeshi Izumi (155.2 lbs.)
Showcase Heavyweight Bout: Corey Anderson (239.2 lbs.) vs. Denis Goltsov (240.8 lbs.)
2025 PFL Africa Cape Town First Round Card:
Grand Arena at GrandWest, Cape Town, South Africa
SuperSport (Africa - English) | Canal+ (Africa - French)
PFL App (U.S.) | DAZN (France, UK & Ireland)
Saturday, 19 July
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Nkosi Ndebele (135.6 lbs.) vs. Mahmoud Atef (134.4 lbs.)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Maxwell Djantou Nana (264.2 lbs.) vs. Mickael Groguhe (265.2 lbs.)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Shannon van Tonder (136.2 lbs.)* vs. Boule Godogo (135.6 lbs.)
*Van Tonder missed weight and will forfeit 20% of his fight purse to Godogo
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Jashell Ticha Awa (261 lbs.) vs. Justin Clarke (239.6 lbs.)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Asiashu Tshitamba (136 lbs.) vs. Karim Henniene (135.8 lbs.)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Abdoulaye Kane (264.2 lbs.) vs. Joffie Houlton (262.0 lbs.)
Bantamweight First Round Bout: Simbarashe Hokonya (135.8 lbs.) vs. Frans Mlambo (135 lbs.)
Heavyweight First Round Bout: Abraham Bably (254.6 lbs.) vs. Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze (251.2 lbs.)
Showcase Women’s Strawweight Bout: Juliet Ukah (115.2 lbs.) vs. Ceileigh Niedermayr (115.4 lbs.)
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