Cameroon-born fighter and Professional Fighter League(PFL) Africa chairman Francis Ngannou will be in Kigali to grace to inaugural PFL Africa semifinals. The historic mixed martial arts event will take place on Saturday, October 18, at the BK Arena, marking Rwanda’s debut as a host nation for the league's continental playoff stage. ALSO READ: PFL Africa in Kigali: A knockout moment for East Africa's MMA dreams Ngannou’s presence in Rwanda underscores the PFL’s commitment to developing African MMA talent and further solidifies Kigali’s status as a top-tier international sports hub. The event, PFL Africa 3, features the semifinals for the Heavyweight, Welterweight, Featherweight, and Bantamweight divisions, pitting the continent’s best fighters against each other for a chance at the championship titles in Benin later this year. Local pride will be on the line as Rwanda’s own James Opio is slated to compete in a showcase Featherweight bout. About Francis Ngannou Francis Ngannou, a Cameroonian and French athlete known globally for possessing some of the heaviest-hitting power in combat sports history, has transformed his career trajectory into a platform for empowerment. After winning the PFL Super Fights Heavyweight title in a spectacular first-round knockout last year, his focus shifted substantially to his executive role. ALSO READ: Francis Ngannou: UFC icon unveils plans to introduce mixed martial arts in Rwanda His landmark deal with the PFL included a major mandate: to serve as the Chairman and an equity owner of PFL Africa. This role is deeply personal, stemming from Ngannou’s own incredible journey from working in a sand quarry in Cameroon and experiencing homelessness in Paris to becoming a global champion. He has frequently emphasized that PFL Africa is designed to provide African athletes with a global platform and the opportunity to make a professional career without having to leave the continent. The upcoming semifinals are a crucial step in realizing that vision, showcasing the depth of talent rising from across Africa, including fighters who have emerged from Ngannou’s own foundation.
