PFL launches PFL Africa with Francis Ngannou as chairman

PFL Africa has officially launched.

PFL Africa joins PFL Europe and PFL MENA as part of PFL’s regional leagues. PFL Africa will feature a regular season followed by playoffs and is set to launch in 2025, promotion officials announced Wednesday morning. Top African fighters will compete, with all events hosted in Africa.

Serving as chairman for PFL Africa is former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who in May 2023 signed a deal that gives him equity and a leadership role within the PFL.

“I am excited and honored to serve as Chairman of PFL Africa, a league that will shape the very foundation of African MMA,” Ngannou said in a statement. “As we have seen, there is a great wealth of talent in Africa just waiting to be given a global stage. I am so very proud to give back to my homeland and to provide great content to a region with such a passionate and diverse fanbase.”

Ngannou is yet to make his PFL in-cage debut. Since parting ways with the UFC in 2023, Ngannou has competed in boxing twice, losing to Tyson Fury by close decision, followed by a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in March.