Former Bellator Featherweight World Champion AJ “Mercenary” McKee (22-2) returns to the SmartCage to face Akhmed Magomedov (11-1), July 19 at PFL Cape Town, the main event at which the full card was announced on Monday.
The PFL event marks Africa’s first-ever global combat event. Set for Saturday, July 19, at Grand Arena, GrandWest in Cape Town, South Africa, the event represents a groundbreaking milestone in the organization’s global expansion efforts.
McKee makes his return following his upset loss to Paul Hughes last October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. His opponent, Magomedov, is a rising Russian star and protégé of the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The event will also launch the 2025 PFL Africa Tournament, with first-round matchups in the Heavyweight and Bantamweight divisions, each featuring an eight-man bracket. In addition to the tournament bouts, the evening will be headlined by five high-stakes PFL Champions Series fights featuring elite global talent.
Tickets for this event are on sale now via Ticketpro.
In addition to McKee’s return, the PFL Cape Town show features a battle between current and former titleholders. Light Heavyweight World Champion Corey Anderson (18-6) moves up to heavyweight to face 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion Denis Goltsov (36-8).
Artur Zaynukov (16-4) returns to the PFL following an impressive showing at Battle of the Giants, aiming to extend his win streak to six. He will meet RIZIN veteran Takeshi Izumi (6-3) of Japan, a decorated wrestler who earned a unanimous decision victory over Spike Carlyle in his most recent outing.
These marquee matchups round out an already stacked PFL Champions Series card, showcasing some of the world’s top MMA talent on African soil. Headlining the evening is undefeated Middleweight World Champion Johnny “Pressure” Eblen (16-0), who puts his perfect record and title on the line against Spain’s surging contender Costello “The Spaniard” van Steenis (16-3).
In the co-main event, Women’s Flyweight phenom “Dangerous” Dakota Ditcheva (14-0), widely considered one of the top pound-for-pound female fighters in MMA, faces Hawaii’s elite striker Sumiko “Lady Samurai” Inaba (8-1) in a thrilling penultimate bout.
Complete PFL Champions Series Card
Saturday, July 19: 2:30 PM EST
Middleweight World Championship Main Event: Johnny Eblen (16-0) vs. Costello van Steenis (16-3)
Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event: Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) vs. Sumiko Inaba (8-1)
Featherweight Showcase Bout: AJ McKee (22-2) vs. Akhmed Magomedov (11-1)
Lightweight Showcase Bout: Artur Zaynukov (16-4) vs. Takeshi Izumi (6-3)
Heavyweight Showcase Bout: Corey Anderson (18-6) vs. Denis Goltsov (36-8)
Complete PFL Africa Card:
Saturday, July 19: 10:30 AM EST
First Round Bouts
Bantamweight: Nkosi Ndebele (8-3) vs. Mahmoud Atef (5-2)
Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana (6-1) vs. Mikael Groguhe (6-2)
Bantamweight: Shannon Van Tonder (7-2) vs. Boule Godogo (3-0)
Heavyweight: Jashell Ticha Awa (3-1) vs. Justin Clarke (2-0)
Bantamweight: Antero Dos Santos (5-0) vs. Karim Henniene (4-0)
Heavyweight: Abdoullah Kane (3-0) vs. Mohammed Ben Yahia (9-4)
Bantamweight: Simbarashe Hokonya (5-0) vs. Alain Majorique (5-0)
Heavyweight: Abraham Bably (5-2) vs. Badredinne Medkouri (7-2)
Showcase Women’s Strawweight Bout: Juliet Ukah (6-0) vs. Ceileigh Niedermayr (3-2)