Cameroon’s Mixed Martial Arts prospect, Styve Ngono claimed a historic victory in his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut in the Republic of Benin on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
The 26-year-old former National Sambo champion put up a heroic performance, dominating Ivorian Meledje Yedoh throughout their three-round Light Heavyweight Showcase bout at the inaugural PFL Africa Finals in Cotonou to claim a dominant decision win.
Ngono has fought all over Africa since making his MMA debut in 2022, and came to the PFL Africa Finals with a 6-1 record, including a four-fight win streak, with a first-round finish against Burkina Faso’s Israel Mano in August.
While Ngono entered the PFL SmartCage with the bold promise of a finish before the third round, the fight proved to be a grueling test of endurance and tactical adjustment. Ultimately, his superior grappling and wrestling dictated the pace, earning him a decisive win in front of an energetic Benin crowd.
Tactical adjustment to conquer
Despite his reputation as a heavy hitter, Ngono found himself adapting mid-fight as his opponent proved more resilient than anticipated. The Cameroonian admitted post-fight that while he wanted a quick knockout, the reality of the cage forced him to pivot to “Plan B.”
“I prepared this fight wanting to end it very quickly, but I realized that to take risks of going faster to achieve that, it is better to preserve the victory,” Ngono told reporters. “I knew that by bringing him [his opponent] to the ground, it was beneficial for me. I think I am better than him in wrestling.”
Ngono utilized multiple takedowns to neutralize Yedoh’s offense, choosing to ground his opponent and land damaging strikes from the top position rather than risking a shootout on the feet. The ground-and-pound tactic left his resilient opponent bleeding most of the times.
Respect for the opponent
Addressing his pre-fight prediction of an early finish, Ngono was humble regarding Yedoh’s durability. He credited his opponent for surviving the onslaught across all three rounds.
“The fight did not happen as I wanted because my opponent was not as easy as I was thinking. He is a good opponent; he prepared as I prepared,” Ngono said. “I just wanted to continue [the damage] hoping that he would give up, but he did not give up because he is also very tough”.
Looking at more opportunities in the PFL
The inaugural PFL Africa Finals featured 11 explosive fights, among which were four championship bouts. Among the 22 African MMA elite fighters – including four women, were four Cameroonians– including a Featherweight title contender. Yet, only Ngono secured a victory, floating the country’s flag at the event.
The victory marked a significant milestone for the young prospect as he enters the into the PFL’s global spotlight. While this was not his first professional bout, the Cameroonian emphasized that it was merely the “beginning” of his journey under the PFL banner.
“I would like the PFL to give me a little more confidence and give me other opportunities to demonstrate myself,” Ngono stated.
