Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) global power house, the Professional Fighters League (PFL), has announced semi-final bouts for its inaugural Africa League, PFL Africa, which will take place in Rwanda in mid-October with two of Cameroon’s best MMA artists on the card.
The historic event, set to take place at BK Arena in Kigali on Saturday, October 18, will feature Welterweight sensation Octave Ayinda, known as the “Bantu Warrior”, and Heavyweight force Maxwell Djantou Nana, known as “Leonidas”, in pivotal matchups that could define their careers.
With a flawless 7-0 fight record, the “Bantu Warrior”, who recorded a first-round TKO in his quarterfinal match against his opponent in Johannesburg earlier this month, will look to secure an eighth straight win and book a spot in the finals. He will face Angola’s submission ace Shido Boris Esperança (10-1). Esperança’s last fight was a stunning 34-second submission, demonstrating his ability to end a fight in an instant.
Ayinda’s electrifying, striking and charismatic presence has made him a fan favourite, and a victory in Kigali would not only propel him to the finals but also firmly establish his reputation as one of the best Welterweights on the continent.
In the Heavyweight division, Nana, who impressed the crowd in Cape Town with his power last month, will seek to maintain his status as king of the Big Boys Division in Africa when he collides with South Africa’s undefeated Justin Clarke in the SmartCage with both men eager to establish themselves as the face of PFL Africa’s Heavyweight division.
Clarke earned a TKO over Cameroonian Jashell Ticha due to a doctor’s stoppage in the first round of their PFL Africa quarterfinal fight in Cape Town last month, and a victory for “Leonidas” would be a form of redemption for Cameroon, proving the nation’s strength in the heavyweight class.
In the main event of the night, Nigeria’s Patrick Ocheme, known as “Star Boi”, will take on Faso’s Abdoul Razac Sankara as both men battle for a spot in the finals of the Featherweight class, while South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele, known as the “King of Many Nations,” faces undefeated Simbarashe “Simba” Hokonya from Zimbabwe.
PFL said in a statement on Monday that additional bouts will be announced subsequently.
Winners of the semi-final bouts will book their spots at the inaugural PFL Africa finals in Benin, where the organisation will crown the first-ever African Champions across the four weight divisions – offering them an opportunity to compete on a global stage.
