The Professional Fighters League returns to action with its most globally significant event to date — PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – Cape Town, live from South Africa on Saturday, July 19. This milestone card marks the official launch of PFL Africa and features a PFL Middleweight World Title fight, the return of Dakota Ditcheva, and a full slate of elite global matchups.
Whether you’re tuning in from the U.S., Africa, or beyond, here’s everything you need to know to catch all the action.
Event Info
- Event: PFL Champions Series: Road to Dubai – Cape Town & PFL Africa: 1st Round – BW (135) & HW (265)
- Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025
- Venue: Grand Arena, GrandWest, Cape Town, South Africa
Where to Watch
🇺🇸 United States Viewers
- PFL Africa: 1st Round – BW (135) & HW (265)
- Start Time: 10:00 AM EST
- Watch Free: Exclusively on the PFL App
- PFL Champions Series
- Start Time: 2:00 PM EST
- Live Stream: Available exclusively on ESPN+
🌍 International Audiences
PFL CHAMPIONS SERIES ON ESPN+
Main Event: Johnny Eblen (16-0) vs. Costello van Steenis (16-3)
🏆 Middleweight World Championship
Undefeated middleweight champion Johnny Eblen defends his perfect record and world title against Dutch-Spanish challenger Costello van Steenis in a highly anticipated matchup. Eblen, known for his world-class wrestling and composure, enters the cage confidently, while van Steenis aims to disrupt with his balanced striking and aggressive pressure game.
Co-Main Event: Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) vs. Sumiko Inaba (8-1)
Building on her winning streak, Dakota Ditcheva returns to fight Hawaiian standout Sumiko Inaba. It’s speed versus power in this high-stakes women’s flyweight battle that could shape the division’s future.
Rest of ESPN+ Fight Card
-
Featherweight: AJ McKee vs. Akhmed Magomedov
-
Lightweight: Artur Zaynukov vs. Takeshi Izumi
-
Heavyweight: Corey Anderson vs. Denis Goltsov
Africa: 1st Round – BW (135) & HW (265)
Streaming live and free on the PFL App (USA ONLY), the PFL Africa card kicks off the day’s action with Bantamweight and Heavyweight First Round matchups, showcasing the next generation of African MMA talent. This segment marks the official start of the PFL Africa league… PFL’s third global regional league after PFL Europe and PFL MENA.
⏰ Local Start Times
| Location | PFL Africa Start | Champions Series Start |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. (EST) | 10:00 AM | 2:00 PM |
| South Africa | 4:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
| GMT | 2:00 PM | 6:00 PM |
✅ Download the PFL App
To catch all PFL Africa action and exclusive behind-the-scenes content, download the PFL App on iOS and Android. Watch live events, fighter features, full replays, and much more – anytime, anywhere.
👉 Download Now
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