PFL Africa showcases Africa’s MMA talent at a sold-out Carnival City as South Africa’s Steyn sets sights on future fights.
Johannesburg, South Africa (11 August 2025) – Johannesburg hosted an electrifying night of mixed martial arts as eight fighters secured their places in the PFL Africa Semifinals. A sold-out Arena at Carnival City saw top Featherweight and Welterweight contenders from across the continent deliver explosive performances in the league’s African debut.
PFL Africa General Manager, Elias Schulze, described the atmosphere as unforgettable.
“This was electric, it was aspirational. From the first fight to the very end, you saw heart and soul on display that even globally is rare, and that’s what I’m hearing from my friends and family around the world tonight, what we saw tonight was the heart of the fighter come out.”
One of the night’s most anticipated matches was the bout between local favourite Elbert Steyn and Morocco’s Abderrahman Errachidy. Steyn, a three-time national wrestling champion who entered the fight with an unbeaten professional record, carried the hopes of the home crowd. Errachidy, who is a former national karate champion with a reputation for fast knockouts, proved to be a formidable opponent.
Errachidy found his moment, stopping Steyn and extending his own win streak to four. The loss ended Steyn’s hopes of advancing in the tournament, leaving the local fans quiet but still appreciative of his effort.
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In the main event, Patrick Ocheme earned a unanimous decision victory over Mohamed Camara to advance to the Featherweight Semifinals.
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Your Weekly Sports Line-Up: Here’s What to Look Forward ToBeyond the results, the evening was more about the atmosphere. With South Africa’s Springbok captain Siya Kolisi among the celebrity guests, the energy inside Carnival City was electric.
Inspired by the two-time World Cup-winning captain, Ocheme admitted his presence gave him the boost.
“It played such a big part in a positive way for me. Seeing guys like that, doing so well and being so well respected, making the time to come and enjoy the show like this is truly inspiring to me,” referring to Springbok captain Siya Kolisi.
The league’s unique “win and advance” format delivers entertainment to keep you on the edge of your seat. While Steyn’s journey ends here, the passion on display in Johannesburg suggests that this is just the beginning for African MMA’s rise on the world stage.
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