Rwanda made a bold statement on Saturday night, October 18, by hosting successful and action-packed semifinals of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Africa which drew over 4,000 mixed martial arts (MMA) spectators at the state-of-the-art BK Arena. President Paul Kagame was in attendance, along with former UFC heavyweight champion and PFL Africa Chairman Francis Ngannou and Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire. The event marked a high point for the league’s African expansion, with the finals set for Cotonou, Benin, on December 20. Overall, Rwanda card delivered on every level, lighting up Kigali’s iconic BK Arena with an unforgettable night of action. The turnout also went beyond expectations, according to organisers, considering that MMA is less common in Rwanda. DJ Niny and Bruce Melodie set the tone with powerful performances, and the athletes matched the energy inside the PFL SmartCage as the 11-fight card featured five stoppages, and six hard-fought decisions, all in pursuit of a place in the 2025 PFL Africa Finals in Benin on December 20. South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele (10-3) and Zimbabwe’s Simbarashe Hokonya (6-1) closed the show with a razor-close bout worthy of a PFL Africa main event. From the opening bell, both athletes showed elite preparation and fight IQ, nullifying each other’s strengths in a tactical, back-and-forth Bantamweight Semifinal. Ndebele looked to showcase his trademark striking from range, while Hokonya—renowned for his grinding wrestling and counter-heavy style—pressed forward, attempting to impose his will inside the PFL Africa SmartCage. Hokonya’s pressure was met with strong resistance, as Ndebele stuffed clinch attempts with underhooks and solid defensive wrestling. While Hokonya edged ahead in total strikes landed, Ndebele’s two takedowns—combined with high-volume attack—proved decisive. Ndebele also secured crucial control time in Round 2, taking Hokonya’s back and locking in a tight body lock to limit movement. In the final round, the South African turned up the pace—landing crisp right hands, clean hooks, impactful low kicks, and capping it off with a well-timed takedown just before the final bell. That strong finish stood him in good stead, earning a split decision win and a place in the 2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Final in Benin, where he will face Algeria’s unbeaten Karim Henniène (6-0). In a heated co-main Event born from bad blood, Angola’s Shido Boris Esperança (11-1) let his performance do the talking, stopping Cameroon’s Octave Ayinda (7-1) in the first round of their PFL Africa Welterweight Semifinal clash. Ayinda started strong, rocking Esperança early with a powerful left hand. But the Angolan standout weathered the storm, relying on his world-class grappling to turn the tide. Showcasing the poise of a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Esperança transitioned smoothly from one dominant position to another, displaying exceptional control and pressure. Once he took Ayinda’s back, Esperança never looked back. What began as a possible submission attempt quickly turned into a barrage of punishing strikes. A crushing left hand followed by relentless rights left Ayinda unable to respond, forcing the referee to step in and wave off the bout, punching Esperança’s ticket to the PFL Africa Welterweight Final. PFL Africa Semifinals: Rwanda Results Nkosi Ndeboele defeats Simbarashe Hokonya via split decision (29-28 x2 30-27) Shido Boris Esperança defeats Octave Ayinda via TKO (R1, 3:46) Justin Clarke defeats Maxwell Djantou Nana via verbal submission (R3, 3:09) Patrick Ocheme defeats Abdoul Razac Sankara via split decision (29-28 x2, 29-28) Abraham Bably defeats Joffie Houlton via TKO (R1, 4:08) Karim Henniène defeats Boule Godogo via KO (R3, 4:21) Yabna N’tchala defeats Emilios Dassi via unanimous decision (29-28 x3) Wasi Adeshina defeats Dwight Joseph via unanimous decision (30-27 x3) James Opio vs. Isaac Omeda ends in a unanimous draw (28-28 x3) Abdoullah Kane defeats Emmanuel Mukam via KO (R1, 0:23) Alain Majorique defeats Mohamed Camara via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28) Takeaways from PFL Africa Kigali semis? The PFL Africa semifinals bouts at BK Arena attracted large numbers, confirming that Kigali’s appetite for MMA is coming of age. ALSO READ: Francis Ngannou on how PFL is shaping African fighters' future PFL Africa’s General Manager, Elias Schulze, reflected on the Kigali semifinals as a turning point for the league’s expansion across the continent, emphasising that the energy in the arena was unlike anything they had seen before, especially for a market where MMA is still growing. “The response from the crowd was immediate. Usually, the early fights have a slow build in terms of attendance and energy, and that wasn’t the case here. From the very beginning, people were loud, present, and fully locked in. This shows the level of enthusiasm for a newer sport in the region,” he said. He also commended Rwanda’s investment in venues like BK Arena, combined with a growing youth interest in combat sports, created the perfect environment for the league to thrive, crediting that to the connection to months of preparation and grassroots outreach done by the PFL Team in Rwanda “We didn’t just show up with a cage and lights. We spent weeks and months informing people about the fighters, what MMA is, and why it matters. We created activities and opportunities for people to understand the heart of the sport, that’s what brought the energy we saw tonight,” he explained. ALSO READ:Top fighters to watch at PFL Africa semifinals in Kigali Rwanda’s own James Bizimungu Opio, who fought in front of a home crowd, thanked his fans despite his match ending in unanimous draw. Reflecting on the result, he acknowledged that the judge’s decisions were uncertain but remained hopeful for future bouts. “Thank you for coming to support me, thank you for showing the love — I really appreciate it, and I assure you, in the next fight, I believe, will be a knockout, so we don’t get to a point where the judges are confused,” Opio said, promising to return stronger after more training, urging his Rwandan fans to keep supporting him.
