• PFL Africa announces Benin as host for the 2025 season finals.

• Benin shines through recent international MMA successes and local development.

• PFL Africa, led by Francis Ngannou, invests heavily in growing African MMA.

The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the world’s second-largest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, has announced that Benin will host the final event of its African season in December 2025.

The announcement came on July 19 during a Watch Party at the Eya Community Centre in Cotonou, following the inaugural PFL Africa event held in Cape Town, South Africa. Backed by Cameroonian heavyweight star Francis Ngannou, PFL Africa is the continental branch of the U.S.-based MMA league.

The Eya Centre, known for its involvement in high-profile sports initiatives in Benin, including recent visits from NBA executives such as Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri, had launched an extensive promotional campaign ahead of the broadcast. The purpose became clear as the event concluded with the unveiling of a visual announcing Benin as the host of the 2025 season finale.

The news was confirmed by Ouanilo Médégan Fagla, President of the Benin MMA Federation. “For a number of years now, the PFL has been closely following the momentum around MMA at regional level and the efforts undertaken in Benin to create a viable ecosystem for the sport,” Fagla said. “The announcement of the December finals in Benin reflects the trust we place in the work done by local stakeholders.”

The news follows Benin’s participation in the 2025 MMA World Championships in São Paulo, where the national team secured two bronze medals and one silver. It builds on previous performances, including medal wins at the 2024 World Championships in Indonesia.

Benin has emerged as a rising MMA hub in West Africa, boosted by the international visibility of fighters like 19-year-old Jean Do Santos and increasing institutional support. Over the past weeks, PFL Africa representatives held consultations with local authorities and sports officials to assess the feasibility of hosting the finals.

Francis Ngannou, Cameroonian heavyweight and President of PFL Africa, is expected to attend the event, which is being seen as a landmark for the continent’s MMA growth.

Despite long-standing declarations of interest, the UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, has yet to stage an event on African soil. This comes as the continent’s fan base continues to expand, driven by the global success of African-born fighters such as Nigeria’s Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman, Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou, and South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis.

Amid this rising interest, broadcasters have moved quickly to secure rights to MMA content in Africa. In 2024, Canal+ acquired exclusive broadcasting rights for the Professional Fighters League (PFL) across sub-Saharan Africa.

This article was initially published in French by Servan Ahougnon

Edited in English by Ange Jason Quenum