The PFL Africa Pretoria event took place on April 10th at the SunBet Arena in South Africa, featuring a series of exciting MMA matchups. The bantamweight main event saw Nkosi “King” Ndebele of South Africa face Michele “The Arrow” Clemente from Italy. Ndebele weighed in at 135.6 pounds, while Clemente made championship weight at 135 pounds, setting the stage for a compelling three-round bout.
This fight served as a significant showcase for the PFL Africa season opener, with Ndebele aiming to solidify his growing reputation on home soil and Clemente looking to secure a victory and make an international impact.
In the heavyweight co-main event, South Africa’s Justin Clarke and Senegal’s Abdoulaye Kane were set to clash. Clarke weighed in at 245.2 pounds, and Kane at 262.7 pounds, promising a classic matchup of size and power. Kane entered the fight as the heavier competitor with significant knockout potential, while Clarke had the advantage of the home crowd and an opportunity to impress.
The undercard featured the launch of the Welterweight Tournament and several regional showcase bouts. The welterweight bracket comprised fighters with undefeated records, promising local talent, and seasoned veterans, with the winner poised for advancement in the PFL Africa rankings later in the season.
Notable results from the event included:
- David Samuel def. Abdelrahman Mohammad via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:03 of round one.
- Abdoul Razac Sankara vs. Áureo Cruz ended in a No Contest at 0:18 of Round 2 due to an accidental foul.
- Shadrack Dju Yemba def. Jean-Jacques Lubaya by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
- Asiashu Tshitamba def. Shannon van Tonder by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
- Felista-Mutheu Mugo def. Annet Kiiza by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26).
PFL Africa Pretoria Fight Card (Partial):
- Nkosi Ndebele vs. Michele Clemente (Bantamweight Main Event)
- Justin Clarke vs. Abdoulaye Kane (Heavyweight Co-Main Event)
- Yabna N’Tchala vs. Peace Nguphane
- Shido Boris Esperança vs. Emilios Dassi
- Rivaldo Pereira vs. Kunle Lawal
- Juliet Ukah vs. Jane Osigwe
