PFL Reveals Full Lagos Card for Historic PFL Africa First Round in 2026

Sports

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) has unveiled the full lineup for its upcoming PFL Africa First Round event on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria. The card will open the tournament action across the PFL Africa Bantamweight and Lightweight competitions, while also including spotlight matchups designed to put several of the region’s most promising up-and-coming fighters in front of a major audience.

Anchoring the event is a Featherweight Showcase Main Event pitting Nigeria’s Wasi “The Nigerian Jaguar” Adeshina against Spain’s Ignacio “Nacho” Campos. Adeshina arrives with a 10-3 record and the added lift of fighting on home turf, where local supporters will be eager to see one of Nigeria’s leading talents perform at the highest level. Campos, meanwhile, enters with a 7-2 professional mark and brings experience from the broader global PFL roster, setting up an intriguing clash that functions as a key stage for PFL Africa’s ongoing push to elevate local stars in front of their own fans.

In the co-main event, Patrick “Star Boi” Ocheme of Nigeria takes on Cameroon’s Octave “The Bantu Warrior” Ayinda in a Lightweight Tournament First Round contest. Ocheme begins his bid for PFL Africa lightweight glory in front of Nigerian supporters, while Ayinda comes in as a threat known for an aggressive approach and real finishing potential. With both fighters aiming to secure momentum early in the bracket, the bout carries heavy tournament weight as they look to earn a step forward into the next phase of the competition.

Another major tournament pairing on the main card features unbeaten Algerian bantamweight Karim “The Kryptonian” Henniene, who holds a 6-0 record, facing South Africa’s Thimna “Kingslayer” Mhlauli, also undefeated at 5-0. The matchup pits two undefeated prospects against each other in a high-stakes First Round battle. Henniene returns after missing the 2025 tournament finals because of injury, while Mhlauli makes his PFL Africa debut determined to keep his perfect run intact.

Nigeria’s Cornel “The Marine Boxer” Thompson (11-3) meets undefeated Congolese fighter Tsilomba “The Old Monkey” Mikixi (5-0) in a Lightweight Tournament First Round fight. Thompson will try to turn the home advantage into a statement after a breakthrough victory in Cotonou, while Mikixi arrives with a strong pedigree, including a former EFC championship and a reputation as one of the division’s rising names. The card also includes a middleweight showcase between Nigeria’s Yahaya “Smile Strong” Yahuza (8-0) and Cameroon’s Jordan Fongno (4-1), a contest that has drawn significant anticipation from regional fans due to their previous rivalry outside the PFL Africa cage.

Rounding out the main card action is a women’s showcase bout featuring undefeated Nigerian strawweight Juliet Ukah and Brazil’s Elisandra Ferreira. Both competitors enter the evening carrying strong momentum as they look to make an impact in Lagos.

The Professional Fighters League is a global mixed martial arts organization and one of the prominent names in the sport. PFL stages live, high-end MMA events that are broadcast and streamed to fans across more than 170 countries via a wide network of international media partners, with a roster made up of professional fighters competing at the top end of international MMA.

Headquartered in the United States, PFL runs events across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, with further global expansion continuing. The promotion is backed by leading institutional investors and professional sports team owners, reflecting the broader acceleration of MMA’s growth as a mainstream worldwide sport.

Zibuyile Dladla
Zibuyile Dladla
Senior Writer

Zibuyile began her media journey as a sales intern at Mediamark (Kagiso Media) before moving into digital content creation for ZAlebs.com. Over four years, she helped evolve the platform from a simple blog into one of South Africa’s leading independent entertainment news sites.
Following ZAlebs’ transition to Celebrity Worx in 2016, Zibuyile was promoted to Executive Editor, recognized for her sharp audience insight and ability to match editorial with branded content. Highlights of her time include a Bookmark Award nomination, judging TLC’s Next Great Presenter, reporting from the MTV EMAs, and building partnerships with radio stations like YFM, Cliff Central, and Good Hope FM.
Her editorial work also expanded to include fast-growing digital verticals—such as lifestyle tech, online entertainment, and gambling-related content—tailored to evolving reader interests and brand opportunities.

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