The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is expanding its global reach with the launch of an African series in 2025. Mixed martial arts (MMA) legend Francis Ngannou will serve as chairman of the new league, aiming to cultivate a thriving African MMA scene.
This move comes as the PFL, already well-established in the United States and Europe, seeks to establish itself as the “Champions League of MMA.” Ngannou, a 37-year-old Cameroonian and former UFC heavyweight champion, sees the PFL Africa as a game-changer for the continent’s MMA landscape.
“This will shape the very foundation of African MMA,” Ngannou declared. “There is a great wealth of talent in Africa just waiting to be given a global stage.”
Ngannou, who signed with the PFL last year but has yet to compete due to boxing ventures, expressed his enthusiasm for giving back to his homeland and its passionate fanbase.
Africa has a rich history in UFC champions, with Ngannou himself holding the heavyweight title. Nigerians Kamaru Usman (welterweight) and Israel Adesanya (middleweight) are also on the list, with South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis recently adding his middleweight title to the mix. While the PFL hasn’t yet crowned an African-born champion, fighters like Impa Kasanganay (2023 light-heavyweight champion, born in the US to Congolese parents) and Sadibou Sy (2022 welterweight champion, Swedish with Senegalese heritage) demonstrate the region’s talent pool.
The PFL Africa series, kicking off in the second quarter of 2025, promises a “thrilling Regular Season, Playoffs and Championship sport-season format” featuring top African fighters competing on home soil. This exciting development is poised to unearth and empower African MMA talent, providing a direct path to the global stage.
