The Professional Fighters League has confirmed PFL Rwanda, scheduled for December 12 at the BK Arena in Kigali, where three African champions will be crowned in the welterweight, lightweight, and bantamweight divisions. David Samuel, Patrick Ocheme, and Raphael Uchegbu, all from Nigeria, will compete for titles. Samuel, undefeated with a record of 7-0, will face Angola's Shido "Machine" Boris Esperança, who has a record of 13-2, in the welterweight final.
Samuel and Esperança reached the final through different routes. Esperança finished his semi-final in the first round, while Samuel went the distance to maintain his perfect record. Samuel expressed his pride in representing Nigeria, saying his roots opened the door for him to compete in PFL Africa. He is determined to become a champion on December 12. Esperança also expressed confidence, stating he has been preparing for the final and believes he can be the champion the promotion deserves.
In the co-main event, Ocheme will face Senegal's Demba "Black Tiger" Seck in the lightweight final. Ocheme, with a record of 10-1, booked his place with a devastating first-round body kick in his semi-final. He stated that finishing fights is what he does best and trusts his preparation and ability to get the job done. Seck, with a record of 11-3, respects Ocheme's skills but believes he is the most complete and experienced fighter in the division.
The bantamweight final will feature Uchegbu, a former FCC champion with a record of 11-2, facing Liberia's Dwight Joseph, who has a record of 17-3. Uchegbu won his semi-final and stated that winning the final will change his life and bring the belt back to Nigeria. Joseph, who won his semi-final by split decision, said coming up short last year motivated him to push harder this time and he is determined to take the belt back to Liberia.
PFL Rwanda will be broadcast across Africa on SuperSport for English-speaking viewers and Canal+ for French-speaking audiences. It will also be available on free-to-air television via SportyTV. PFL Africa General Manager, Elias Schulze, expressed excitement for the event, stating that Kigali will take center stage as Africa's next champions are crowned in front of a global audience.
The event is a significant opportunity for African talent to showcase their skills on a world stage. Schulze emphasized that the promotion is giving African fighters a platform to compete and inspire the next generation. The final will feature a global audience, and the event is expected to be a major milestone for African mixed martial arts.
The PFL Africa finals will take place on December 12 at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. The event will feature three title fights, and the Nigerian trio of Samuel, Ocheme, and Uchegbu will look to bring home the championships. The finals will be a culmination of the PFL Africa season, and the winners will be crowned African champions in their respective divisions.
Key points
- Three Nigerians will compete for titles at the PFL Africa finals in Rwanda on December 12.
- The event will be broadcast across Africa on SuperSport and Canal+.
- The PFL Africa finals will feature three title fights in the welterweight, lightweight, and bantamweight divisions.
