PFL Africa Launch Set for Second Quarter 2025, Francis Ngannou to Serve as Chairman

The groundwork has been laid for Professional Fighters League to plant its flag in Africa.

The organization announced on Wednesday that PFL Africa will debut in the second quarter of 2025. Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou , who hails from Cameroon, will serve as chairman for the league. PFL Africa will follow a format similar to that of affiliate regional leagues PFL Europe and PFL MENA, with a regular season and postseason featuring fighters from throughout Africa.

“I am excited and honored to serve as Chairman of PFL Africa, a league that will shape the very foundation of African MMA,” Ngannou said in a release. “As we have seen there is a great wealth of talent in Africa just waiting to be given a global stage. I am so very proud to give back to my homeland and to provide great content to a region with such a passionate and diverse fanbase.”

PFL Africa is backed by an investment from Helios Sports & Entertainment Group, which notably formed a previous partnership with the NBA for NBA Africa. The company will hold a stake in the new promotion.

“African talent has had disproportionate success on the global MMA stage and MMA currently has a scarcity of events despite significant demand, creating a huge opportunity for growth as young Africans consume more digital content on their devices,” said Tope Lawani, co-founder and managing partner of Helios Investment Partners. “We are looking forward to partnering with the PFL, a world class organization, and with Francis Ngannou , who is a manifestation of the success of African talent on a global stage.

“…We see several areas of direct synergies between PFL Africa and HSEG’s existing unique portfolio and we are excited by the opportunities such collaboration can bring to the continent.”