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African mixed martial arts talents set for global stage
Professional Fighters League senior vice president Loren Mack speaks at a press conference in Washington DC on April 23, 2025.
What you need to know:
- PFL has been working on the launch of its Africa league since partnering with MMA star Francis Ngannou in 2023.
- PFL Africa intends to elevate African fighters on the global stage and address a previously underserved market.
Rising African combat sports talents will soon be offered path to the global stage of mixed martial arts (MMA) as USA-based MMA promotion outfit, the Professional Fighters League (PFL), is set to launch the Africa League.
One of the biggest MMA promotions in the world, PFL will officially launch the Africa season this year – growing the sport on the continent and spotlighting homegrown talents.
The PFL has been working on the launch of its Africa league since partnering with MMA star Francis Ngannou from Cameroon in 2023.
PFL Senior Vice President, Loren Mack, has been making trips to Africa to lay the groundwork ahead of the highly anticipated launch of the season.
Cameroonian fighter Maxwell Djantou Nana kicks American Kent Mafileo who he defeated by a TKO in two rounds during a PFL heavyweight showcase fight in November 2024.
Mack has twice been to Cameroon – home country of PFL Africa Chairman – the latest being in March 2025. He has also been to Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire.
“African MMA fans can expect PFL Africa to be a true showcase of MMA talent from the region,” Loren told Nation Sport during his latest visit to Cameroon.
“We’re going to be putting the spotlight on homegrown talents from Africa, and these guys are some of the best fighters in the world,” he said.
Loren said driven by the continent’s rich talents, PFL Africa intends to elevate African fighters on the global stage and address a previously underserved market.
The PFL Africa will be focused on fostering MMA talent across the continent with fighters competing in a structured season that includes regular matches, playoffs, and a championship – all hosted within Africa for the first time.
Top-quality fighters
“This format is something that we know will resonate with African fans, because it did well with fans in Europe. What we’re trying to do with our efforts for global expansion is we’re building the “Champions League” of MMA,” Loren explained.
The arrival of PFL Africa sees it join the organisation’s other regional leagues. Ngannou will serve as chairman of the Africa league that will feature top-quality fighters from the continent.
“Francis Ngannou will be playing a major role with PFL Africa as the league’s chairman, and he’s probably the biggest name in African MMA there is. He’s a world champion, he’s the reigning PFL PPV Super Fights Heavyweight Champion, and we’ll definitely be seeing more of him in the SmartCage soon,” Loren said.
Shido Boris from Angola is one of the Mixed Martial Arts fighters from Africa to look out for.
Other rising African fighters in the PFL include Shido Boris Esperanca from Angola and Maxwell Djantou Nana from Cameroon.
MMA is the fastest-growing sport in the world with hundreds of millions of fans globally including in Africa, “so being able to bring the PFL to the region and grow the sport there even more is an exciting thing to work on,” the PFL Senior Vice President said.
Without disclosing dates, Loren explained that PFL but will hold four exciting events across the biggest markets in Africa. the events he said, will be a pair of Regular Season or Elimination Round events, a Playoffs or Semifinals event, and a Finals event.
“It’s win or go home, so the fights are going to be intense and action-packed, and the season’s winners will be crowned inaugural PFL Africa Champions, and they’ll potentially have the opportunity to work their way into the PFL World Tournament and become world champions,” Loren explained.
More than just being able to leave their mark on African MMA, the PFL Senior Vice President said the bourgeoning combat sports organisation wants to elevate and grow African MMA to the next level “and we believe that PFL Africa will do just that. The fans are going to love it, the fighters are going to love it, and we cannot wait,” he said.
