The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has announced its first-ever event on the African continent, scheduled for July 26 in Cape Town. This historic card will include a Champions Series portion, highlighted by appearances from undefeated fighters Johnny Eblen and Dakota Ditcheva.
Johnny Eblen, the former Bellator middleweight champion with a perfect 16-0 professional record, is set to defend his 185-pound belt. His opponent will be Costello van Steenis. Meanwhile, prominent flyweight Dakota Ditcheva, who boasts a 14-0 record, will compete in a non-title attraction against Sumiko Inaba.
In addition to these featured bouts, the PFL Africa section of the event will officially launch continental tournaments for the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions, featuring eight fighters in each bracket.
Eblen`s most recent outing saw him successfully defend his title against Fabian Edwards, earning a unanimous decision victory. Van Steenis enters this matchup following finishes in his last two fights, securing wins over Gregory Babene in Bellator and Joao Vitor Dantas under the PFL banner.
Dakota Ditcheva had a stellar 2023, winning the PFL Europe tournament with three finishes. She carried that momentum into 2024, achieving three dominant first-round stoppages and most recently defeating UFC veteran Taila Santos in a championship contest.
Sumiko Inaba spent her entire career prior to the PFL merger competing for Bellator. She transitioned to the PFL and secured a finish over Mackenzie Stiller in her last fight in September 2024.
