As the first year of the inaugural Africa season of global Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion, the Professional Fighters League (PFL), draws to a close with crowning of pioneer PFL Africa Champions, the General Manager of PFL Africa, Elias Schulze, has said the sports has seen remarkable growth on the continent, thanks largely to the active involvement of its Chairman and superstar, Francis Ngannou.
After three major events – including a semifinal in Rwanda last October, the first-ever PFL Africa Champions across the four divisions: Heavyweight, Welterweight, Bantamweight and Featherweight, will be crowned during the inaugural PFL Africa finals on Saturday, December 20 in Cotonou, Benin.
Besides a prestigious belt and the title of the inaugural PFL Africa Tournament Champion, each division winner will claim a $100,000 prize (about FCFA 60 million), representing one of the highest payouts for professional athletes in Africa. Among the title contenders is Cameroon’s undefeated Featherweight star, Alain Majorique.
Speaking during a virtual press conference ahead of the event, Elias Schulze, praised Ngannou’s hands-on leadership and his inspiring journey, which he said resonates deeply with fighters. He said Ngannou’s vision not only motivates athletes but also aligns with broader goals for Africa’s youth and development.
“Francis Ngannou has a real heart for the youth, for Africa’s development, not just athletes, but everybody who wakes up to make the continent a better place,” the GM of PFL Africa said of the Chairman, adding that: “So, we are very vision aligned and he remains active”.
Schulze highlighted that the talent level among African fighters has exceeded expectations showcasing PFL Africa as a professional league with world-class combatants.
“Many of these fighters can go head-to-head with fighters from the United States or fighters in Europe. In fact, some of them have fought in Europe or have trained and fought in America or Asia. So, it’s truly a global quality combat league with a specific focus for Africa,” the PFL Africa GM said.
Why Benin was chosen to host finals
The forthcoming PFL Africa finals will feature a spectacular lineup of 24 fighters and exciting finishes, illustrating the league’s growing prestige and competitive quality.
Schulze explained that the choice of the West African nation as host of the historic finals was rooted in the nation’s rich cultural history and strong government partnership.
He explained that Benin’s historical fighting traditions and commitment to cultural and sports development made it an ideal venue. Partnerships with Benin’s Ministries of Sports and Tourism, and the EYA Foundation helped secure the location.
Schulze expressed pride in closing the season in a country that embodies the spirit and tradition vital to PFL Africa’s vision.
“Benin represents the heartbeat, I don’t want to make our Nigerian friends too upset, but one of the key heartbeats of Africa… Benin will be at the forefront of people’s imagination when they think Africa MMA and we’re very proud to continue that and have that fight here in Cotonou,” Schulze stated.
