The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is making its first venture into Africa with an event scheduled for July 26 in Cape Town. This landmark fight card will feature a Champions Series portion headlined by two undefeated athletes, Johnny Eblen and Dakota Ditcheva, the promotion confirmed on Wednesday.
Johnny Eblen, the former Bellator middleweight champion who maintains a perfect 16-0 professional record, is slated to defend his 185-pound title against Costello van Steenis. In another prominent bout, the 2024 PFL flyweight champion, Dakota Ditcheva, will face Sumiko Inaba in a non-title matchup.
Beyond the featured bouts, the PFL Africa section of the event will initiate the continental tournaments, establishing eight-man brackets in both the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions.
Eblen`s most recent title defense resulted in a unanimous decision win in a rematch against Fabian Edwards. His opponent, Costello van Steenis (16-3), enters this contest following stoppage victories over Gregory Babene under the Bellator banner and Joao Vitor Dantas in his subsequent PFL appearance.
Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) solidified her status by winning the PFL Europe tournament in 2023 with three finishes. She carried that momentum into 2024 with three dominant first-round stoppages, culminating in a championship victory over UFC veteran Taila Santos.
Sumiko Inaba (8-1) competed exclusively under the Bellator promotion throughout her prior career. Following the merger, she transitioned to the PFL and secured a finish against Mackenzie Stiller in her most recent fight in September 2024.
