The anticipation surrounding the 2026 PFL Africa tournament has reached a fever pitch as the six finalists have been officially announced following an exhilarating series of semi-finals held in Casablanca, Morocco. These fighters, representing their respective nations, will vie for championship titles in their divisions and a lucrative prize of $100,000 at the finals, which are scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda on December 12.
Finalists of the 2026 PFL Africa Tournament
In the welterweight division, Shido Boris Esperança from Angola has made history by becoming the first and only two-time finalist in the PFL Africa series. He secured his spot in this year’s final by defeating South Africa's Peace Nguphane via ground-and-pound just 1:03 into the first round of their semi-final bout. Esperança's journey began with a stunning first-round stoppage of Emilios Dassi at the PFL Africa: Pretoria event. Despite his previous appearance in the 2025 PFL Africa welterweight final, where he was edged out by champion Yabna N'Tchala, Esperança's persistence has paid off as he now prepares for another shot at the title.
Joining him in the final is David Samuel from Nigeria, who made his PFL Africa debut this season and clinched a unanimous decision victory against Rivaldo Pereira in Casablanca. Samuel's impressive performance earlier in the tournament included a first-round submission of Abdelrahman Mohamed with a rear-naked choke, showcasing his grappling skills and determination.
In the lightweight category, Nigerian fighter Patrick Ocheme has emerged as a formidable contender after delivering one of the most memorable finishes of the tournament. Ocheme knocked out Cornel Thompson with a body kick in the first round at PFL Africa: Morocco, adding to his previous first-round knockout of Octave Ayinda with a flying knee at PFL Africa: Nigeria. After a disappointing exit from the 2025 featherweight tournament due to a weight miss, Ocheme has found his stride at lightweight, demonstrating his true potential.
His opponent in the lightweight final will be Demba Seck from Senegal, who advanced to the championship round under unusual circumstances. Seck's semi-final bout against Hussain Al Kurdi ended prematurely due to an accidental groin strike, leading to a no-contest ruling just 37 seconds in. Ultimately, PFL Africa awarded Seck the victory, allowing him to progress to the final after previously defeating Jean Do Santos by unanimous decision in his debut season.
Turning to the bantamweight division, Raphael Uchegbu from Nigeria will compete for the title without having to face off in the semi-finals, as his opponent Karim Henniene withdrew just prior to fight week. Uchegbu earned his place in the semi-finals through a unanimous decision win over Edson Machavane at PFL Africa: Nigeria, and he now looks forward to his chance at championship glory.
Completing the bantamweight final lineup is Dwight Joseph from Liberia, who secured his spot with a narrow split decision victory over Boule Godogo in Morocco. Previously, Joseph had reached the semi-finals of the 2025 featherweight tournament but fell short against champion Wasi Adeshina. He began his 2026 bantamweight journey with another split decision win over Alain Majorique at PFL Africa: Nigeria, demonstrating his resilience and skill in the cage.
The stage is now set for an electrifying showdown at the 2026 PFL Africa finals, where these six outstanding competitors will battle for divisional titles and the substantial prize money. Fans can expect a thrilling atmosphere as the fighters prepare to showcase their skills and determination in Kigali.
As reported by mmasucka.com.
