Eliezer “King Kong” Kubanza doesn’t fight for points — he fights for destruction. Eight wins. Seven stoppages. A walking highlight reel built on raw power and violent intent. When Kubanza steps into the cage, the clock starts ticking on his opponent.
Image: Brave CF
PFL Africa has made its intentions clear: the organisation is committed to building quality stables loaded with Africa’s brightest emerging MMA talents.
Now entering its second season since launching the continental franchise last year, PFL Africa continues to recruit high-value, entertainment-driven professionals capable of capturing the crowd’s attention with show-stopping performances.
On April 10, 2026, PFL Africa: Season Two kicks off at the SunBet Arena at Time Square in Menlyn Maine, Pretoria, building on the momentum of last year’s inaugural campaign.
Their latest signing is Eliezer “King Kong” Kubanza (8–1), a former IMMAF star and BRAVE CF boogeyman who lives by one rule: don’t let it go to the judges.
The DRC-born athlete — who cut his teeth in South Africa — worked his way up the BRAVE Combat Federation super welterweight rankings, handing out first-round stoppages like candy before recording his first career unanimous decision victory against Bahrain’s Zagid Gaidarov at BRAVE CF 91.
That win secured Kubanza contender status in the super welterweight division and eventually led to an opportunity on Dana White’s Contender Series. The powerful athlete thrives on aggressive forward pressure, mixing kicks, elbows, knees, and dangerous head-kick knockouts with naturally strong takedown defence that has improved significantly in recent outings.
His shot at the big leagues in the UFC was not meant to be this time around, as he suffered a first-round TKO defeat to the USA’s Christopher Alvidrez (7–1) at the UFC Apex Centre in September last year.
It marked the first professional loss of Kubanza’s career, but not to his detriment. At just 28 years old, he has taken the experience in stride, gaining valuable lessons that will only serve him as he continues to grow and develop.
He was later drafted into the final show of the 2025 PFL Africa season as a welterweight showcase competitor, where he returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion. Kubanza defeated Ivory Coast’s Francis Mozou (4–3) via first-round TKO in Benin — on the same card where one of his closest friends and training partners, Nkosi Ndebele, was crowned the inaugural PFL Africa bantamweight champion.
Opening the main card in Pretoria, Kubanza will face Kunle “The Nigerian Ninja” Lawal (3–1), a fighter known for bringing the kind of wrestling pressure that makes strikers rethink their game plans. With an incredible reach and a background shaped by the tough UK amateur circuit, Lawal combines Scottish training with Nigerian pride.
In what promises to be a bout that will test the resolve and mettle of both athletes, fireworks are expected.
The PFL became the first global MMA organisation to launch a structured league of this magnitude in Africa as part of its international expansion strategy, which includes PFL Europe, PFL MENA and PFL Pacific.
Headlining the Pretoria card is South Africa’s Ndebele (11–3), who faces Italy’s Michele Clemente (7–1). Clemente, an Oktagon MMA standout riding a five-fight winning streak, will be making his PFL Africa debut.
Heavyweight action will also feature prominently, with South Africa’s Justin Clarke (4–1) set to meet Senegal’s Abdoullah Kane (5–1) in the co-main event.
The opening bout on the Pretoria card will feature Uganda’s Annet “Rose” Kiiza (3–1) taking on Kenya’s Felista “The Young Queen” Mugo (5–2–1) in a women’s strawweight showcase contest.
Another intriguing matchup sees Jane “The Slayer” Osigwe (5–3) square off against fellow Nigerian Juliet “Golden Bones” Ukah (8–0) in another women’s strawweight showcase bout.
The Democratic Republic of Congo will witness a clash of countrymen in a high-stakes featherweight encounter as Jean-Jacques “Ziwi” Lubaya (9–2) faces Shadrack “Baba Yaga” Dju Yemba (5–1).
South Africa’s Asiashu Tshitamba (6–5) meets Shannon van Tonder (7–3) in a bantamweight showcase bout.
Also on the preliminary card, Burkina Faso’s Abdoul Razac Sankara (7–5) faces Angola’s Áureo Cruz (3–0) in a lightweight showcase matchup.
Another welterweight showcase pits two undefeated athletes against one another, as Nigeria’s David “Django” Samuel — forged in the demanding Russian sambo system — puts his pedigree to the test against Egypt’s Abdelrahman Mohammad, known as “The African Prowler,” who fights out of Cairo.
In 2025, PFL Africa crowned its first champions: Nkosi Ndebele, Yabna N’Tchala, Abraham Bably and Wasi Adeshina, each earning $100,000 in prize money.
Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, while fans can follow the PFL Africa and MzansiMMA social media platforms for further announcements.
IOL Sport