For the first time, on Saturday, October 18, Kigali hosted the action-packed semifinals of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Africa at the state-of-the-art BK Arena. President Paul Kagame graced the event, alongside PFL Africa Chairman Francis Ngannou and Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire. The night marked a major milestone in the league’s African expansion, with the finals set to take place in Cotonou, Benin, on December 20. The electrifying 11-fight card thrilled spectators with five stoppages and six hard-fought decisions, showcasing Africa’s finest mixed martial arts talent. Rwanda’s own James Bizimungu Opio, who fought in front of a passionate home crowd, expressed gratitude to his fans despite his match ending in a unanimous draw. The New Times photojournalist Olivier Mugwiza captured the highlights of the historic night through his lens.
