James Bizimungu Opio, a Rwandan-born MMA fighter raised in Uganda, is getting ready to fight in front of a Rwandan crowd for the first time. He will represent Rwanda in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Africa Semi-finals, set for October 18 at BK Arena in Kigali. His opponent is Uganda’s Isaac Omeda, an unbeaten fighter, but Opio says he is not worried. “He is not new to me. I’ve watched his fights, and we have a strong game plan. I am confident that I will win this one for Rwanda,” Opio said in an interview with Times Sport. ALSO READ:PFL Africa in Kigali: A knockout moment for East Africa's MMA dreams Opio, who has been doing MMA for seven years and turned professional three years ago, has a record of two wins and one loss. His wins include a TKO and a submission, and he believes he can finish Omeda early, too. “It’s going to end in a knockout or a submission, probably in the first round. If not, the second,” he said. How did Opio become a fighter? Though he grew up in Uganda, Opio says Rwanda is home. His family left Rwanda when he was young, and he lost his mother at age 9, a life-changing moment that pushed him toward martial arts. “Growing up was not easy. After my mom died, things changed. I was the lastborn, and I had to find ways to protect myself. We used to fight a lot in the neighbourhood, so I started learning how to fight,” he explained. ALSO READ:UFC star Francis Ngannou to visit Rwanda ahead of PFL Africa semis His first taste of martial arts came from a local trainer who taught kids kung fu. Later, at age 15, he joined taekwondo and went on to win a medal in competitions. But he eventually outgrew the limitations of traditional martial arts and got drawn to MMA. “In taekwondo and kung fu, there are things you can’t do. Then I watched UFC, and it felt like a full fight. I didn’t know much about grappling or wrestling, but I knew I wanted to be an MMA fighter,” he said. About the fight Opio says his main strengths are boxing and grappling areas, where he believes he has the upper hand over Omeda. Looking ahead, he sees this fight as just the beginning of a bigger journey. “I see myself as a world champion in the future. That’s the goal. I’ve been working hard, and if you watch my fights from the start until now, you’ll see how much I’ve improved,” he said. ALSO READ:Francis Ngannou: UFC icon unveils plans to introduce mixed martial arts in Rwanda Opio is also calling on Rwandans to show up in big numbers and support him at BK Arena. “Please book your tickets early and come support me. This is home. I want to see my people there. If I see you in the crowd, I’ll fight even harder. Let’s win this together.” About PFL Africa and the Kigali event The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is one of the fastest-growing MMA organisations in the world. It’s known for its unique “win and advance” tournament format, which sets it apart from other promotions. The league operates in three formats: the PFL World Championship, the PFL Champions Series, and PFL International Leagues, which include PFL Africa. The PFL Africa Semi-finals in Kigali on October 18 will mark the second major event on the continent, following its debut in Cape Town in July.
