PFL Africa crowns three champions Dec. 12 at BK Arena in Kigali, led by unbeaten David Samuel vs. Shido Boris Esperança, with Ocheme-Seck and Joseph-Uchegbu also set.
From 3 reports by 2 outletsLatest PFL Rwanda finals set for Dec. 12 in Kigali, led by Esperança vs. Samuel 2 outlets
What we know
- The PFL Africa welterweight, lightweight and bantamweight tournament finals are on Dec. 12 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, and each winner receives a belt and $100,000.
- Esperança vs. Samuel is the main event and Ocheme vs. Seck is the co-main event.
- Demba Seck advanced after his semifinal with Hussain Al Kurdi was declared a no contest because of an accidental knee to the groin.
- Raphael Uchegbu advanced without fighting after Karim Henniene withdrew in event week and no replacement was available.
- PFL Rwanda airs across Africa on SuperSport in English and Canal+ in French, with free-to-air coverage through SportyTV.
- Shido Boris Esperança is the only fighter to reach the PFL Africa final twice.
Two of the three finalists on the Dec. 12 card got through without winning a fight. That makes the night at BK Arena as much about proving a place as taking a belt, and the stakes are the same in every final: a title and a $100,000 prize.
The welterweight main event pairs the most experienced finalist with the only unbeaten one. Angola's Shido Boris Esperança is the only fighter to reach the PFL Africa final twice. He got here with a first-round technical knockout of Peace Nguphane in Casablanca. Nigeria's David Samuel, 7-0, took a unanimous decision over Rivaldo Pereira. Samuel told Pos-Luta he cannot afford to lose, because a defeat would slow his path to the main PFL league, and that he links the result in Kigali to a contract renewal. He also said he trained with less load because his body has been pushed hard, and the final will be his fifth appearance since Feb. 23.
At lightweight, Nigeria's Patrick Ocheme brings the cleanest finish of the semifinals, a first-round body-kick knockout of Cornel Thompson, his second straight opening-round finish. He meets Senegal's Demba Seck, whose semifinal with Hussain Al Kurdi was ruled a no contest after an accidental knee to the groin. Seck was named the advancing fighter, so he has not yet gone through a full fight on the way to the final.
Bantamweight has a similar wrinkle. Nigeria's Raphael Uchegbu, a former Full Contact Contender champion, advanced without fighting because Karim Henniene withdrew in event week and no replacement was available. Liberia's Dwight Joseph took a split decision over Boule Godogo. Joseph is 37 and was born in the United Kingdom. He fell short in the previous PFL Africa tournament and has said he wants to take the belt back to Liberia.
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.
The welterweight main event pairs the most experienced finalist with the only unbeaten one. Angola's Shido Boris Esperança is the only fighter to reach the PFL Africa final twice. He got here with a first-round technical knockout of Peace Nguphane in Casablanca. Nigeria's David Samuel, 7-0, took a unanimous decision over Rivaldo Pereira. Samuel told Pos-Luta he cannot afford to lose, because a defeat would slow his path to the main PFL league, and that he links the result in Kigali to a contract renewal. He also said he trained with less load because his body has been pushed hard, and the final will be his fifth appearance since Feb. 23.
At lightweight, Nigeria's Patrick Ocheme brings the cleanest finish of the semifinals, a first-round body-kick knockout of Cornel Thompson, his second straight opening-round finish. He meets Senegal's Demba Seck, whose semifinal with Hussain Al Kurdi was ruled a no contest after an accidental knee to the groin. Seck was named the advancing fighter, so he has not yet gone through a full fight on the way to the final.
Bantamweight has a similar wrinkle. Nigeria's Raphael Uchegbu, a former Full Contact Contender champion, advanced without fighting because Karim Henniene withdrew in event week and no replacement was available. Liberia's Dwight Joseph took a split decision over Boule Godogo. Joseph is 37 and was born in the United Kingdom. He fell short in the previous PFL Africa tournament and has said he wants to take the belt back to Liberia.
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.
- Summary
- PFL Africa crowns three champions Dec. 12 at BK Arena in Kigali, led by unbeaten David Samuel vs. Shido Boris Esperança, with Ocheme-Seck and Joseph-Uchegbu also set.
- Key points (one per line)
- PFL Rwanda on Dec. 12 at BK Arena in Kigali has the welterweight, lightweight and bantamweight tournament finals.
Esperança (13-2) faces unbeaten David Samuel (7-0) in the main event; Ocheme (10-1) meets Seck (11-3) in the co-main.
Dwight Joseph (17-3) faces Raphael Uchegbu (11-2) for the bantamweight title.
Uchegbu reached the final without fighting after Karim Henniene withdrew.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Pos-Luta | https://posluta.com/pfl-africa-define-finais-em-kigali-e-coroara-tres-campeoes-em-dezembro/
Pos-Luta | https://posluta.com/pfl-africa-decide-tres-cinturoes-em-kigali-com-o-invicto-david-samuel-na-final-dos-meio-medios/
Combat Press | https://combatpress.com/2026/10/pfl-rwanda-to-crown-three-african-champions-dec-12-in-kigali/
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Fighters in this story
Demba Seck
Patrick Ocheme
David Samuel
Dwight Joseph
Shido Boris Esperanca
Raphael UchegbuMore photos
Sources
Pos-Luta
Combat PressSummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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