The Professional Fighters League (PFL) Africa is set to return to Kigali on December 12, 2026, with the BK Arena scheduled to host the season finals, where three divisional champions will be crowned.
The event will feature championship bouts in the welterweight, lightweight, and bantamweight divisions, following the conclusion of the semifinals in Casablanca, Morocco, on October 10. The finalists have now been confirmed, setting up three contests to determine the 2026 PFL Africa tournament champions.
The return marks another major mixed martial arts event for Rwanda, which hosted PFL Africa semifinals at the BK Arena in October 2025. Kigali will now welcome the promotion back for the decisive stage of the 2026 competition.
Three Championship Bouts Set for Kigali
The welterweight final will feature Angola’s Shido Boris Esperança against Nigeria’s David Samuel. Esperança secured his place after defeating South Africa’s Peace Nguphane by first-round technical knockout in Casablanca, while Samuel advanced with a unanimous decision victory over Guinea-Bissau’s Rivaldo Pereira.
In the lightweight division, Nigeria’s Patrick Ocheme will face Senegal’s Demba Seck. Ocheme booked his place in the final with a knockout victory over compatriot Cornel Thompson. Seck advanced after his semifinal against Chad’s Hussain Al Kurdi ended in a no-contest following an accidental groin strike, with PFL rules determining that a finalist had to advance.
The bantamweight championship will see Nigeria’s Raphael Uchegbu take on Liberia’s Dwight Joseph. Joseph secured his place after defeating Angola’s Boule Godogo by split decision, while Uchegbu advanced after his scheduled semifinal opponent missed weight and could not compete.
Kigali Strengthens Its Position as a Sports Destination
The December finals will add to Rwanda’s growing profile as a host of international sporting events. The country’s modern sports infrastructure, including the BK Arena, has provided a venue for competitions attracting athletes and audiences from across the continent.
PFL Africa’s return also forms part of the promotion’s wider expansion across African markets, providing fighters with a platform to compete internationally and pursue championship titles.
The tournament has offered athletes from different countries an opportunity to progress through regional events and semifinals toward the final stage, with the champions set to emerge from the three divisions in Kigali.
The 2026 finals are expected to bring together leading mixed martial arts talent from across Africa, with the welterweight, lightweight and bantamweight contests forming the centrepiece of the event.
With three titles at stake, the December 12 show will mark the culmination of the 2026 PFL Africa tournament and another opportunity for Kigali to host a major international combat sports event.
