The Professional Fighters League today announced the complete fight card for the PFL Africa Season 2 First Roundlive from the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa on Friday 10 April 2026.
The event marks the official launch of PFL Africa Season 2 and continues the league’s mission to spotlight Africa’s top mixed martial arts talent on a global stage.
Headlining the card will be a Bantamweight Showcase Bout between 2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Champion Nkosi “King” Ndebele (11-3) and Italy’s Michele “The Arrow” Clemente (7-1). Ndebele enters the bout competing in front of a home crowd and looking to extend his unbeaten record in PFL competition following his championship-winning performance in the 2025 Finals. Clemente arrives on a five-fight winning streak and brings a technical striking and grappling approach into the matchup. The contest places championship experience against a rising international challenger to open Season 2.
In the Co-Main Event, South Africa’s Justin Clarke (4-1) faces Senegal’s Abdoulaye Kane (5-1) in a Heavyweight Showcase Bout. Clarke returns after reaching the 2025 PFL Africa Heavyweight Final and will look to re-establish himself in front of the Pretoria crowd. Kane enters the bout on a two-fight knockout streak and has finished all of his professional victories. With neither fighter having gone to a decision, the matchup is expected to produce a decisive outcome.
In a Welterweight Tournament First Round bout, 2025 PFL Africa Welterweight Champion Yabna N’Tchala (14-2, 1 NC) takes on South Africa’s Peace Nguphane (8-3). N’Tchala begins his campaign pursuing a second PFL Africa title, while Nguphane enters on a four-fight winning streak and will be competing on home soil. Both fighters bring strong grappling backgrounds into the contest, making the bout a pivotal opening matchup in the tournament bracket.
Angola’s Shido Boris Esperança (11-2) meets Cameroon’s Emilios Dassi (5-2) in another Welterweight Tournament First Round contest. Esperança reached the finals of last season’s tournament and returns seeking to move past that result, while Dassi enters with a reputation for power and finishing ability. Both fighters previously lost to the eventual champion, adding further significance to a matchup that could shape the division moving forward.
Kicking off the main card, Eliezer Kubanza (8-1) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo goes up against Nigeria’s Kunle Lawal (3-1) in a Welterweight Tournament First Round matchup. Kubanza is known for his knockout power, having finished the majority of his professional victories. Lawal, meanwhile, brings a wrestling-based approach and will look to extend the fight and control the pace. The matchup presents a clear stylistic contrast as both fighters aim to advance in the tournament.
Also on the card, Juliet Ukah (8-0) puts her unbeaten record on the line against fellow Nigerian Jane Osigwe (5-3) in a Women’s Strawweight showcase bout. Ukah’s measured, technical approach meets Osigwe’s aggressive pace in an intriguing matchup.
PFL Africa First Round card:
Bantamweight Showcase Main Event: Nkosi Ndebele (11-3) vs. Michele Clemente (7-1)
Heavyweight Showcase Co-Main Event: Justin Clarke (4-1) vs. Abdoulaye Kane (5-1)
Welterweight Tournament First Round: Yabna N’Tchala (14-2, 1 NC) vs. Peace Nguphane (8-3)
Welterweight Tournament First Round: Shido Boris Esperança (11-2) vs. Emilios Dassi (5-2)
Welterweight Tournament First Round: Eliezer Kubanza (8-1) vs. Kunle Lawal (3-1)
Women’s Strawweight Showcase: Juliet Ukah (8-0) vs. Jane Osigwe (5-3)
Welterweight Tournament First Round: Abdelrahman Mohammad (5-0) vs. David Samuel (4-0)
Lightweight Showcase: Abdoul Razac Sankara (7-5) vs. Áureo Cruz (3-0)
Featherweight Showcase: Jean-Jacques Lubaya (9-2) vs. Shadrack Dju Yemba (5-1)
Bantamweight Showcase: Shannon van Tonder (7-3) vs. Asiashu Tshitamba (6-5)
Women’s Strawweight Showcase: Felista-Mutheu Mugo (5-2-1) vs. Annet Kiiza (3-1)
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global mixed martial arts organization and one of the world’s leading combat sports properties. PFL produces live, premium MMA events broadcast and streamed to fans in more than 170 countries through an extensive network of international media partners. The organization features a roster of professional fighters representing the highest levels of international mixed martial arts competition.
Headquartered in the United States, PFL holds events across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, with continued global expansion underway. PFL is backed by leading institutional investors and professional sports team owners, reflecting the accelerating growth of MMA as a mainstream global sport.
