PFL Champions Series 2

Last updated
PFL Champions Series 2: Eblen vs. van Steenis
PFL Champions Series 2.jpg
The poster for PFL Champions Series 2: Eblen vs. van Steenis
Promotion Professional Fighters League
DateJuly 19, 2025 (2025-07-19)
VenueGrandWest Arena
City Cape Town, South Africa
Event chronology
PFL Europe 2 PFL Champions Series 2: Eblen vs. van Steenis PFL 8

PFL Champions Series 2: Eblen vs. van Steenis and PFL Africa 1: 2025 First Round was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Professional Fighters League that took place on July 19, 2025, at GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Background

The event marked the promotion's debut in South Africa, which became the 14th country to held a PFL and WSOF event. This also the first event to held in Africa region. [5] On May 20, the promotion announced that they’ve changed the date for their from July 26 to July 19 instead. [6]

A PFL Middleweight World Championship bout between current champion Johnny Eblen and Costello van Steenis headlined the event. [7]

The event also featured the quarterfinals of 2025 PFL Africa Tournament in a heavyweight and bantamweight divisions. [8]

At the weigh-ins, Shannon van Tonder weighed in at 136.2 pounds, 0.2 pounds over the bantamweight limit and he was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Boule Godogo. [9]

Results

PFL Champions Series 2 (DAZN / ESPN+)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
Middleweight Costello van Steenis def. Johnny Eblen (c)Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)54:51 [a]
Women's Flyweight Dakota Ditcheva def. Sumiko Inaba Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
Featherweight A. J. McKee def.Akhmed MagomedovDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
LightweightMakkasharip Zaynukovdef.Takeshi IzumiDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
Heavyweight Corey Anderson def. Denis Goltsov TKO (elbows)23:28
2025 PFL Africa 1 (DAZN / PFL App)
BantamweightNkosi Ndebeledef.Mahmoud AtefTKO (punches)14:50 [b]
HeavyweightMaxwell Djantou Nanadef.Mickaël GroguheDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00 [c]
BantamweightBoule Godogodef.Shannon van TonderDecision (split) (30–26, 28–29, 29–27)35:00 [d]
HeavyweightJustin Clarkedef.Jashell Ticha AwaTKO (retirement)15:00 [e]
BantamweightKarim Hennienedef.Asiashu TshitambaDecision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 29–28)35:00 [f]
HeavyweightJoffie Houltondef.Abdoullah KaneDQ (illegal knee)10:40 [g]
BantamweightSimbarashe Hokonyadef.Frans MlamboDecision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–25)35:00 [h]
HeavyweightAbraham Bablydef.Paul-Emmanuel GnazeKO (punch)14:59 [i]
Women's StrawweightJuliet Ukahdef.Ceileigh NiedermayrDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00
  1. For the PFL Middleweight World Championship.
  2. 2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  3. 2025 PFL Africa Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  4. 2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal; van Tonder missed weight (136.2 lb).
  5. 2025 PFL Africa Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  6. 2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  7. 2025 PFL Africa Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  8. 2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal. Mlambo was deducted one point in round 2 due to illegal elbows to back of head.
  9. 2025 PFL Africa Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.

[10] [11]

Tournament brackets

2025 PFL Africa Heavyweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze [a] 1
 
 
 
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Abraham BablyKO
 
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Abraham Bably
 
 
 
Flag of Nigeria.svg Joffie Houlton
 
Flag of Nigeria.svg Joffie Houlton [b] DQ
 
 
 
Flag of Senegal.svg Abdoullah Kane 1
 
Flag placeholder.svg
 
 
 
Flag placeholder.svg
 
Flag of South Africa.svg Justin ClarkeTKO
 
 
 
Flag of Cameroon.svg Jashell Ticha Awa 1
 
Flag of South Africa.svg Justin Clarke
 
 
 
Flag of Cameroon.svg Maxwell Djantou Nana
 
Flag of Cameroon.svg Maxwell Djantou NanaUD
 
 
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Mickaël Groguhe 3
 
  1. Badr Medkouri withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze.
  2. Mohammad Ben Yahia withdrew from the tournament due to an injury and was replaced by Joffie Houlton.

2025 PFL Africa Bantamweight Tournament

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
Flag of South Africa.svg Nkosi NdebeleTKO
 
 
 
Flag of Egypt.svg Mahmoud Atef 1
 
Flag of South Africa.svg Nkosi Ndebele
 
 
 
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Simbarashe Hokonya
 
Flag of South Africa.svg Frans Mlambo [a] 3
 
 
 
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg Simbarashe HokonyaUD
 
Flag placeholder.svg
 
 
 
Flag placeholder.svg
 
Flag of South Africa.svg Shannon van Tonder 3
 
 
 
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Boule Godogo SD
 
Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Boule Godogo
 
 
 
Flag of Algeria.svg Karim Henniene
 
Flag of South Africa.svg Asiashu Tshitamba [b] 3
 
 
Flag of Algeria.svg Karim HennieneSD
 
  1. Alain Majorique withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Frans Mlambo.
  2. Antero dos Santos withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Asiashu Tshitamba.

See also

    References

    1. "Professional Fighters League Launches PFL Africa With Historic Mega Event In Cape Town". Professional Fighters League. 2025-05-07. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
    2. Cruz, Guilherme (2025-05-07). "Johnny Eblen, Dakota Ditcheva return at PFL Cape Town". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
    3. Law, Eddie (2025-05-07). "PFL Africa Set For July 26 Date In Cape Town Featuring Ditcheva, Eblen". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
    4. Holland, Jesse (2025-05-07). "PFL Africa debut announced for July 26 in Cape Town, featuring return of Dakota Ditcheva". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
    5. "PFL confirms PFL Africa launch with Cape town event". Sportcal.com. 2025-05-07. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
    6. Law, Eddie (2025-05-20). "PFL Africa 1 Event In Cape Town Rescheduled For July 19". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2025-05-20.
    7. "Johnny Eblen, Dakota Ditcheva to compete in inaugural PFL Africa event in July". MMA Junkie. 2025-05-07. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
    8. Sherdog.com. "Professional Fighters League Announces PFL Africa Launch; Debut Set for July 26". Sherdog. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
    9. Treese, Tyler. "2025 PFL Africa 1 Weigh-in Results: Title Fight Set; 1 Fighter Heavy". Sherdog. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
    10. "PFL Champions Series 2: Eblen vs. van Steenis". Professional Fighters League. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
    11. "2025 PFL Africa 1: First Round". Professional Fighters League. Retrieved 2025-06-10.