Bracketology: 2025 PFL Africa Welterweight, Featherweight Tournaments

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The second Professional Fighters League Africa event took place on Saturday in Johannesburg, with the welterweight and featherweight tournament brackets opening at 2025 PFL Africa 2: First Round. There was a plethora of spectacular finishes throughout the featherweight tournament and the welterweight action did not disappoint either.

After an exciting night of action, the semifinals are set and here’s a look at the updated featherweight and welterweight brackets:

2025 PFL Africa Featherweight Semifinal: Dwight Joseph vs. Wasiu Adeshina

Joseph may have stolen the night with an incredible flying knee knockout to remember in his first-round match against Wilker Nsamo. The fight started off slow after following two spectacular finishes in the previous two fights, but in the closing seconds of the second frame as it appeared things were headed to a third stanza, Joseph landed a flying knee that closed the show, followed by a toss that would see Nsamo faceplant on the mat.

Immediately following Joseph’s knockout was Adeshina taking on Jean-Jacques Lubaya in their opening round matchup. Adeshina needed some time to get the finish, but was in complete control whenever he got a takedown. Adeshina would take full advantage of his control in the second period when Lubaya could no longer withstand the pressure; Adeshina would wrap up a rear-naked choke to advance.

2025 PFL Africa Featherweight Semifinal: Abdoul Razac Sankara vs. Patrick Ocheme

Sankara started the excitement at PFL Johannesburg with a magnificent question mark kick knockout of Shadrick Dju Yemba. It was a KO that looked like it would compete for knockout of the year before Joseph had his own. Sankara was applying relentless pressure throughout, and after a body kick, he threw the question mark kick that had the crowd on their feet.

Ocheme was involved in one of the most chaotic fights of the night taking on Mohamed Camara. Nearly getting the TKO and submission victory in the second round, Camara would survive the frame and the fight would go all 15 minutes. The judges would score the bout 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28, in a fight where Ocheme looked to be in control.

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2025 PFL Africa Featherweight Welterweight Semifinal: Emilios Dassi vs. Yabna N'Tchala

Dassi came out of the gates swinging against Osvaldo Benedito, but then found himself in a compromised position when Benedito would look to wrap up a triangle choke. Dassi was able to escape and landed big power punches on Benedito, who was able to get back to his feet until Dassi swarmed in and threw with reckless abandonment and put his opponent out on his behind up against the fence.

N’Tchala had a tough test as he took on Sanon Sadeck in what was one of the few fights to tilts to reach the judges. While Sadeck would continuously push the pace and pressure on N’Tchala, it would be N’Tchala who would get the unanimous decision victory with his takedown abilities and effective striking throughout all three rounds.

2025 PFL Africa Featherweight Welterweight Semifinal: Ayinda Octave vs. Shido Boris Esperanca

Octave entered the contest against British Boloyoang undefeated and it took less than two minutes for his streak to continue. After Boloyoang attempted to pull a guillotine choke in the early moments of the fight, Octave maintained top control and never let up until the stoppage. After landing big punches and elbows, Boloyoang motioned his hands to the referee and the fight would be called by a verbal submission.

Coming into the fight with full confidence as the best wrestler and grappler in the division, Esperanca wasted zero time against Ibrahima Mane. As the fight started with absolute chaos between the two, Esperanca quickly took the back of Mane and grabbed his neck, getting the submission in just 34 seconds of the first round.