The Professional Fighters League`s first-ever event held in Africa, scheduled for July 26th in Cape Town, will feature a prominent Champions Series portion. This special section is slated to be headlined by undefeated martial arts stars Johnny Eblen and Dakota Ditcheva, the organization officially announced on Wednesday.
Johnny Eblen, the former Bellator champion who holds a flawless professional record of 16 wins and no losses, is scheduled to put his 185-pound title on the line against contender Costello van Steenis. In a separate bout, Dakota Ditcheva, the victor of the 2024 PFL flyweight season, will compete in a non-title clash against Sumiko Inaba.
Preceding the Champions Series, the PFL Africa segment of the event will initiate the launch of continental eight-man tournaments in both the heavyweight and bantamweight weight classes.
Eblen (16-0) last defended his middleweight championship successfully via unanimous decision in a rematch against Fabian Edwards. His opponent, Van Steenis (16-3), is entering this upcoming fight having secured finishing victories in his recent outings against Gregory Babene while competing under the Bellator banner and Joao Vitor Dantas in PFL competition.
Dakota Ditcheva (14-0) claimed victory in the 2023 PFL Europe tournament, achieving three finishes throughout that campaign. She has carried that impressive momentum into 2024, securing three dominant stoppages in the first round, including a championship performance where she overwhelmed UFC veteran Taila Santos.
Sumiko Inaba (8-1) spent the entirety of her prior professional career competing within Bellator before transitioning to the PFL following the merger between the promotions. Her most recent appearance in the cage was a finishing victory over Mackenzie Stiller, which took place in September 2024.
Oliver Croft