Nkosi Ndebele beats Simbarashe Hokonya at PFL Africa headliner in Rwanda

RWANDA: Fights on the 2025 PFL Africa Semifinal: Rwanda card at Kigali’s BK Arena on Saturday night produced five stoppages and six hard-fought decisions, all in pursuit of a place in the 2025 PFL Africa Finals in Benin on Dec. 20.

South Africa’s Nkosi Ndebele (10-3) and Zimbabwe’s Simbarashe Hokonya (6-1) closed the show with a razor-close bout worthy of a PFL Africa main event. From the opening bell the fighters set out to neutralize each other’s strengths in a tactical, back-and-forth bantamweight semifinal.

Ndebele looked to show off his trademark striking from range, while Hokonya — renowned for his grinding wrestling and counter-heavy style—pressed forward, attempting to impose his will inside the PFL Africa SmartCage.

Hokonya’s pressure was met with strong resistance, as Ndebele stuffed clinch attempts with underhooks and solid defensive wrestling. While Hokonya edged ahead in total strikes landed, Ndebele’s two takedowns — combined with high-volume attack — proved decisive.

Ndebele also secured crucial control time in Round 2, taking Hokonya’s back and executing a tight body lock to limit movement. In the final round, the South African turned up the pace — landing crisp right hands, clean hooks, impactful low kicks, and capping it off with a well-timed takedown just before the final bell. That strong finish stood him in good stead, earning a split decision win and a place in the 2025 PFL Africa bantamweight final in Benin, where he will face Algeria’s unbeaten Karim Henniene (6-0).

In a heated co-main event built on bad blood, Angola’s Shido Boris Esperanca (11-1) let his performance do the talking, stopping Cameroon’s Octave Ayinda (7-1) in the first round of their PFL Africa welterweight semifinal clash.