PFL Africa 3 Kigali 2025: Ndebele vs. Hokonya is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Professional Fighters League that will take place on October 18, 2025, at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.


Fight card

Main card (DAZN / PFL App)

Bantamweight Simbarashe Hokonya vs. Nkosi Ndebele 2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal
Welterweight Shido Boris Esperança vs. Ayinda Octave 2025 PFL Africa Welterweight Tournament Semifinal
Heavyweight Maxwell Djantou Nana vs. Justin Clarke 2025 PFL Africa Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal
Catchweight (157 lb) Patrick Ocheme vs. Abdul Razak Sankara

Preliminary card (DAZN / PFL App)

Heavyweight Abraham Bably vs. Joffie Houlton 265 lbs Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal
Bantamweight Boule Godogo vs. Karim Henniene 135 lbs Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal
Welterweight Yabna N’Tchalá vs. Emilios Dassi 170 lbs Welterweight Tournament Semifinal
Featherweight Wasi Adeshina vs. Dwight Joseph 145 lbs Featherweight Tournament Semifinal
Heavyweight Abdoullah Kane vs. Emmanuel Mukam 265 lbs Heavyweight Tournament Alternate bout
Featherweight Mohamed Camara vs. Alain Majorique 145 lbs Featherweight Tournament Alternate bout
Featherweight James Opio vs. Isaac Omeda 145 lbs


Background

The event will be feature the semifinals of the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament in a heavyweight, welterweight, featherweight and bantamweight divisions.

After announcing the first four marquee fights, including the main and co-main event, the PFL has now confirmed the entire PFL Africa Semifinals: Rwanda card with seven additional action-packed bouts guaranteed to electrify African MMA fans. This historic event marks the biggest MMA showcase ever staged in East Africa, underscoring Rwanda’s growing reputation as a premier destination for world-class sports and entertainment.

Powered by the global brand Tour Rwanda, the vibrant nation continues to position itself on the international stage by hosting world-renowned artists and concerts, international festivals, and elite sports competitions. By bringing the PFL Africa Semifinals to Kigali, PFL adds mixed martial arts to that list of milestone moments—reaffirming “The Land of a Thousand Hills” as a hub of culture, sport, and innovation. This event represents a landmark moment for global MMA, as the PFL integrates Africa into its fastest-growing international league, empowering African athletes with a global platform and life-changing opportunities.

After two electrifying events in Cape Town and Johannesburg, Africa’s top Bantamweight, Featherweight, Welterweight, and Heavyweight athletes will now descend upon Kigali with their sights set on Benin, where the inaugural PFL Africa champions will be crowned in December.

PFL Africa Semifinals: Rwanda will feature 11 fights in total - eight semi-final bouts, two alternate bouts, and one showcase fight.


Opening the semifinals, Nigeria’s Wasi Adeshina (8-3) meets Liberia’s Dwight Joseph (15-2) in a Featherweight showdown. Both fighters secured their semifinal slots in Johannesburg last month, with Adeshina defeating Jean Jacques Lubaya and Joseph stopping Wilker Nsamo.

In the Welterweight division, Guinea-Bissau’s Yabna “The Panther” N’tchala (12-2-1) looks to extend his dominance and move one step closer to glory. Across from him stands Emilios Dassi (5-1) of Cameroon, a product of the Francis Ngannou Foundation who carries frightening knockout power reminiscent of his countryman, Ngannou himself.

In Bantamweight action, the undefeated Boule Godogo (4-0) of the DRC, fresh off a major upset win against Shannon van Tonder (7-3), meets Algeria’s Karim “The Kryptonian” Henniene (5-0) in a classic “someone’s 0 must go” matchup — set to deliver elite grappling exchanges.

The Heavyweight division features a clash of power as Ivory Coast’s Abraham “The One and Only” Bably (6-2) squares off against Nigeria’s Joffie Houlton (8-4). These two athletes will set the stage in the first Heavyweight semi-final before their counterparts collide, as Cameroon’s Maxwell Djantou Nana (7-1) meets undefeated South African Justin Clarke (3-0) with a coveted spot in the Championship round on the line.

A special treat is on the cards for Rwandans as one of the nation’s own sons, James Opio (2-1) - an exciting finisher with one TKO and one submission - aims to stamp down his authority when he meets an unbeaten mixed martial artist in Uganda’s Isaac Omeda (2-0) in a Showcase Featherweight Bout.

In the co-main event, South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele (9-3) — known as the “King of Many Nations” looks to take another step toward gold. He faces undefeated Zimbabwean prospect Simbarashe Hokonya (6-0), a dangerous contender who trains alongside Nicholas Hwende, the very fighter who once dethroned Ndebele.

Headlining the card, Nigeria’s unorthodox Featherweight star Patrick Ocheme (7-1) meets Burkina Faso’s dynamic striker Abdoul Razac Sankara (7-4), who rides into the matchup with momentum from a “Knockout of the Night” performance in Johannesburg.



#PFLRwanda #PFLAfrica | Saturday October 18 | BK Arena, Kigali

For some reason they have not posted the weigh-ins on Youtube but at least the face-off's are available.
This looks like it could be a great event!


PFL Africa 3 - Rwanda - Promo

Face offs:

Republic of Guinea Mohamed Camara vs. Cameroon Alain Majorique

Senegal Abdoulaye Kane vs. Cameroon Emmanuel Mukam

Rwanda James Opio vs. Uganda Isaac Omeda

Nigeria Wasi Adeshina vs. Liberia Dwight Joseph

Guinea-Bissau Yabna N’Tchala vs. Cameroon Emilios Dassi

Angola Boule Godogo vs. Algeria Karim Henniene

Ivory Coast Abraham Bably vs. Nigeria Joffie Houlton

Nigeria Patrick Ocheme vs. Burkina Faso Abdoul Razac Sankara

Cameroon Maxwell Djantou Nana vs. South Africa Justin Clarke

Angola Shido Boris Esperança vs. Cameroon Octave Ayinda

South Africa Nkosi Ndebele vs. Zimbabwe Simbarashe Hokonya

Last Word


RWANDA – October 17, 2025 – The official weigh-ins for the 2025 PFL Africa Semifinals: Rwanda are in the books, and the action will take place tomorrow at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, with the bouts starting at 6pm CAT / 12pm ET / 5pm BST.

The Main Event is official: South Africa’s Nkosi “The King of Many Nations” Ndebele (9-3) and Zimbabwe’s Simbarashe “The Hawk” Hokonya (6-0) both made weight, coming in at 135.6 lbs and 135.2 lbs, respectively, ahead of their highly anticipated Bantamweight headliner, which will determine who earns a shot at the PFL Africa Finals taking place in Benin on December 20.

The co-main event is also locked in and set to feature two explosive PFL Africa Welterweights, Angola’s Shido Boris Esperança (10-1) and Cameroon’s undefeated Octave Ayinda (7-0), who both successfully stepped on the scale under the weight limit of 171 lbs. With the fight official, both athletes now turn their full attention to tomorrow’s prestigious Semifinal as they pursue the honor of being crowned the first-ever PFL Africa Welterweight Champion.

The 2025 PFL Africa Semifinals: Rwanda will air live on October 18 on SuperSport and Canal+ starting at 6pm CAT, and free on the PFL App in the United States starting at 12pm ET.

The full weigh-in results are as follows:


Bantamweight Semifinal Main Event: Nkosi Ndebele (135.6 lbs) vs. Simbarashe Hokonya (135.2 lbs)

Welterweight Semifinal Co-Main Event: Shido Boris Esperança (170.6 lbs) vs. Octave Ayinda (169.2 lbs)

Heavyweight Semifinal Bout: Maxwell Djantou Nana (263.2 lbs) vs. Justin Clarke (244.6 lbs)

157 lbs Catchweight Showcase Bout: Patrick Ocheme (156.2 lbs) vs. Abdoul Razac Sankara (151 lbs)*

Heavyweight Semifinal Bout: Abraham Bably (245 lbs) vs. Joffie Houlton (263.8 lbs)

Bantamweight Semifinal Bout: Boule Godogo (135.4 lbs) vs. Karim Henniène (137.2 lbs)*

Welterweight Semifinal Bout: Yabna N’tchala (170.4 lbs) vs. Emilios Dassi (170.6 lbs)

Featherweight Semifinal Bout: Wasi Adeshina (148 lbs) vs. Dwight Joseph (145.6 lbs)*

Featherweight Showcase Bout: James Opio (146) vs Isaac Omeda (139.8)

Alternate Heavyweight Bout: Abdoulaye Kane (263.8 lbs) vs. Emmanuel Mukam (235.6 lbs)

Semifinal Featherweight Bout: Mohamed Camara (145.8 lbs) vs. Alain Majorique (146 lbs)

* Ocheme vs Sankara is now a 157 lbs Catchweight Showcase after both missed weight. Camara vs Majorique replaces it as the Featherweight Semifinal.

* Henniène missed weight; Godogo will receive 20% of his purse.

* Adeshina missed the 146 lbs featherweight limit; Joseph will receive 20% of his purse.