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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.

Ayinda made a strong start, rocking Esperanca early with a powerful left hand. But the Angolan weathered the storm, relying on his world-class grappling to turn the tide. Showing all the poise of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Esperanca transitioned smoothly from one dominant position to another, displaying exceptional control and pressure.

Once he took Ayinda’s back, Esperanca was unstoppable. What began as a possible submission attempt quickly turned into a barrage of punishing strikes. A crushing left hand followed by relentless rights left Ayinda unable to respond, forcing the referee to step in and wave off the bout, punching Esperanca’s ticket to the PFL Africa welterweight final.

In the second and final heavyweight semifinal of the night, South Africa’s Justin Clarke (4-0) delivered a stunning performance, going toe-to-toe with one of the most dangerous strikers in the division, Cameroon’s Maxwell Djantou Nana (7-2), before emerging victorious.

In a contender for fight of the night, both men thrilled the crowd at BK Arena with a high-paced, back-and-forth battle featuring elite-level striking and championship-caliber grit.

As the bout entered the third round, the South African’s relentless pressure and conditioning began to tell on Nana, ultimately forcing the Cameroonian to verbally concede, securing Clarke a victory and a place in the PFL Africa heavyweight final.

In the first heavyweight semifinal of the night, 2023 PFL Challenger Series contract winner and Ivory Coast’s own Abraham Bably (7-2) delivered a statement victory, stopping Nigeria’s Joffie Houlton (8-5) in devastating fashion in the opening round.

In the opening featherweight semifinal bout, Cameroon’s Alain Majorique (6-0) showed composure and grit, overcoming two groin strikes from Guinea’s Mohamed Camara (5-4-1) to earn a dominant victory and advance to the 2025 PFL Africa finals.

All roads now lead to Benin on Dec. 20 for the 2025 PFL Africa Finals, where the Professional Fighters League will crown its first PFL Africa bantamweight, featherweight, welterweight, and heavyweight champions.

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan could include a third spinner against South Africa as the hosts try to sweep the series 2-0 in the second Test in Rawalpindi, head coach Azhar Mahmood said Sunday.

Pakistan beat World Test champions South Africa by 93 runs inside four days last week with spinners taking 34 of the 40 wickets on a turning Qaddafi Stadium pitch.

Mahmood said either leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed or uncapped 38-year-old left-armer Asif Afridi could be called up for the second and final Test beginning on Monday on a dry Rawalpindi pitch.

Left-armer Noman Ali took 10 wickets in the first Test while his spin partner Sajid Khan finished with six.

With the pitch in Rawalpindi likely to turn more as the match goes on, Mahmood stressed that first innings runs will be crucial, whether batting first or second.

“The pitch looks dry ... so you need to score big and not depend on the toss for a favorable result,” said Mahmood.

South Africa will be bolstered by the return of experienced left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who missed the first Test with a groin strain.

“Keshav is fit and obviously it is great to have him back,” said South Africa stand-in captain Aiden Markram.

“He brings in great experience and a really good skill set.”

Maharaj is likely to partner Senuran Muthusamy, who excelled with 11 wickets in the first Test.

“It is really important for us to try to level the series,” said Markram, who is captain because Temba Bavuma is injured.

“We are expecting more spin in this Test but it is an opportunity for us.”

Tony de Zorzi made a century in the first Test and Markram said the South Africans had “tapped into him” to understand “what worked against the Pakistan spinners.”

“It is good to have someone with that confidence,” he added.