The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced plans to launch a combat sports league in Africa by the second quarter of 2025.
PFL CEO Peter Murray stated this yesterday at the launch of an international fighting franchise which offers the rights to start a fighting league in Africa.
He explained that PFL Africa will introduce an attractive sports season format that will include a regular season, playoffs and a championship featuring Africa's top fighters at every event, adding that it will stem the talent drain on the continent.
“Africa is home to some of the best fighters in the world, including league president Francis Ngannou, and the sport's best fans. PFL Africa aims to provide premium content to the best fans while strengthening PFL's global footprint in markets that have long been underserved,” he said.
He added that the league's presence in Africa would help develop combat sports at the grassroots level and foster deeper ties with national federations.
“We tend to partner with stakeholders wherever martial arts is taking place, including at the grassroots level and national federations, and this is part of the vision of the sport at all levels and we do it in a spirit of partnership,” he said.
He described Africa as a treasure trove of limitless talent and stressed that the league would boost the popularity of the sport and strengthen its global influence.
Tope Lawani, co-founder of Helios Investments, added that there are many young people in Africa who need opportunities to showcase their talents and that the league will serve as a talent hunter.
“African talent is enjoying overwhelming success on the global MMA stage, a sport that currently has a low number of events despite high demand. With Africa's youth consuming more digital content on their devices, there is a huge opportunity for growth,” he said.
