Undefeated mixed martial artist and Nigeria Police Force officer, Juliet Ukah, is set to represent Nigeria at the inaugural Professional Fighters League (PFL) Africa event scheduled for July 19 at the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa.
Ukah, who boasts an unblemished professional record of 6 wins and no losses, will participate in a special Women’s Strawweight Showcase Bout at the landmark event. While her opponent is yet to be announced, her inclusion signals the growing influence of African athletes—particularly women—in global MMA.
The upcoming PFL Africa event marks the first time a major international MMA promotion will host a competition on the continent. Initially slated for a later date, the event has been moved forward to July 19, and tickets are now available to the public.
Showcasing top talent from across the continent, the Cape Town card will feature elite fighters competing in both the Bantamweight and Heavyweight divisions. Headlining the event is South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele (8-3), who will take on Egypt’s Mahmoud Atef (5-2) in a Bantamweight semifinal clash. In the co-main event, Cameroon’s Maxwell Djantou Nana (6-1) faces Ivory Coast’s Mikael Groguhe (6-2) in what promises to be a thrilling Heavyweight showdown.
The inaugural PFL Africa Tournament will feature eight-man brackets in each division, beginning with the Heavyweight and Bantamweight classes. Full tournament schedules, including dates and host cities for the semifinals and finals, will be announced soon.
Altogether, 32 fighters from 15 African nations are expected to compete across four divisions in 2025, as PFL Africa embarks on a mission to crown the continent’s first-ever PFL champions.
Ukah’s participation not only highlights her rising profile as one of Africa’s most promising female fighters but also underscores the expanding role of African athletes in the global MMA landscape.
PFL Africa’s debut will set the stage for the upcoming PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai—a premium card featuring top-ranked global fighters. Headlining that series, Johnny “Pressure” Eblen (16-0) will defend his world title against Spain’s Costello “The Spaniard” van Steenis (16-3).
In the women’s co-main event, undefeated British striker Dakota “Dangerous” Ditcheva (14-0)—widely regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound female fighters—will square off against Hawaii’s Sumiko “Lady Samurai” Inaba (8-1) in a highly anticipated bout.
The PFL’s expansion into Africa marks a major milestone in the sport’s evolution on the continent, offering a platform for African fighters to shine on the international stage.
