The first premium Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) league featuring top African athletes will host all events across the continent and be accessible via leading regional media partners.
MMA superstar Francis Ngannou has been appointed as the Chairman of PFL Africa.
Helios Sports & Entertainment Group has invested to become a strategic partner in PFL Africa. The league aims to be Africa’s most accessible sports league across linear, digital, and mobile platforms, with its launch planned for Q2 2025.
Lagos, Nigeria (July 10, 2024) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL), the world’s fastest-growing and most innovative sports league, has announced the launch of PFL Africa. Joining PFL Europe and PFL MENA, this new regional league will adopt a Champions League-style format with a Regular Season, Playoffs, and Championship, showcasing top African fighters at events held on the continent.
In an unprecedented partnership, Helios Sports & Entertainment Group will hold a stake in the promotion, where Francis Ngannou will serve as Chairman. PFL Africa is scheduled to debut in the second quarter of 2025, reaching fans through linear, digital, and mobile platforms.
“The Professional Fighters League is thrilled to announce PFL Africa, our third international fight franchise as we strive to become the Champions League of MMA,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “Africa, home to some of the greatest fighters like our Chairman Francis Ngannou, also boasts some of the sport’s most passionate fans. PFL Africa aims to deliver premium content while expanding our global reach in an underserved market. We eagerly anticipate launching PFL Africa league action in 2025 with our investment and broadcast partners.”
“I am excited and honored to be Chairman of PFL Africa, a league poised to shape the foundation of African MMA,” said Francis Ngannou. “Africa has immense talent ready to unfold on a global stage. I am immensely proud to give back to my homeland by providing premium content to such a diverse and passionate fanbase.”
“African talent has achieved significant success on the global MMA stage, yet events remain scarce. This demand presents an opportunity for growth as young Africans increasingly consume digital content,” said Tope Lawani, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Helios Investment Partners. “We are excited to partner with PFL, a top-tier organization, and Francis Ngannou, an exemplar of African talent’s global success. HSEG is dedicated to collaborating with global blue-chip sports and entertainment properties in Africa, like the PFL. Our collaborations, including investments with the NBA Africa, The Malachite Group, and Zaria Group, present various synergies with PFL Africa and hold promise for transformative opportunities on the continent.”
PFL is unique in MMA for its sports-season format, where fighters engage in a Regular Season, Playoffs, and a Championship format annually. The combined roster of PFL and Bellator includes 30% of its fighters independently world-ranked in the top 25 of their weight class. With a global vision, PFL is crafting the “Champions League of MMA” with PFL Europe, PFL MENA, and more leagues under development. PFL is a leader in technology and innovation, boasting the PFL SmartCage system for fight analytics, real-time betting, AI scoring, and a next-generation viewing experience. PFL content is accessible via ESPN/ESPN+ in the U.S., DAZN in Canada and Europe, and in 160 countries through 20 premium media distribution partners.
ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global MMA powerhouse and the fastest-growing sports league worldwide. Offering continuous content through five live fight franchises—PFL League Season, PFL PPV Super Fights, PFL Challenger Series, PFL International Leagues, and Bellator—PFL was founded in 2018 with support from leading blue-chip investors such as SRJ, Ares, Knighthead, Luxor Capital, Waverley Capital, and Elysian Park Ventures. MMA is seeing growth as a sport business this decade, engaging 650 million fans globally, with the youngest audience demographic and diverse revenue streams.
ABOUT HELIOS SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
Helios Sports & Entertainment Group (HSEG) is committed to leveraging Africa’s distinctive demographic advantages and worldwide technological advancements by investing in brands, companies, and assets within the African sports and entertainment ecosystem. Established in 2021 by Helios Investment Partners—Africa’s largest private investment firm—HSEG partners with premier global sports and entertainment properties in Africa.
HSEG’s unique portfolio includes partnerships with NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League (BAL), the global music company The Malachite Group, which operates Afro Nation and Piano People, and Zaria Group, focused on managing, developing, and commercializing multi-purpose venues in Africa. HSEG investments seek to nurture and harness African talent at scale, aiming to deliver impactful growth by creating global opportunities for African talent.
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