FIGHT ANNOUNCED PFL Africa sets three finals in Kigali on Dec. 12 for belts and $100,000 prizes

Two of the three finals feature a fighter who got there without winning a fight. That makes the Dec. 12 card at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, as much about proving a place as taking a belt, and each final pays a $100,000 prize.

The welterweight final is the most experienced pairing. Angola's Shido Boris Esperanca is the only fighter to reach the PFL Africa final twice. He earned this one with a first-round technical knockout of Peace Nguphane in Casablanca, Morocco. Nigeria's David Samuel awaits after a unanimous decision over Rivaldo Pereira.

At lightweight, Nigeria's Patrick Ocheme comes in with the most eye-catching finish of the semifinals, a body-kick knockout of Cornel Thompson. He meets Senegal's Demba Seck, who advanced after his semifinal with Hussain Al Kurdi was ruled a no contest because of an accidental knee to the groin. Seck was named the advancing fighter, so he has not yet been tested through a full fight on the road to the final.

Bantamweight has a similar wrinkle. Nigeria's Raphael Uchegbu advanced without fighting because Karim Henniene withdrew in event week and no replacement was available. His opponent, Liberia's Dwight Joseph, took a split decision over Boule Godogo. Joseph is 37 and was born in the United Kingdom, and he has the more recent fight experience of the two.

Watch how Seck and Uchegbu handle the step up. Both have had less cage time than their opponents, and the finals will show whether that means rest or rust.