In Washington, D.C., two South African athletes, Nkosi Ndebele and Eliezer Kubantsa, made their debut in the PFL Global league recently. Ndebele demonstrated a dominant performance against American Brandon Davis, while Kubantsa secured an impressive victory over Chris Mixan.
Nkosi Ndebele, known as the 'King of Many Nations,' officially introduced himself to PFL Global by achieving a convincing win over Brandon Davis. This fight took place at the CareFirst arena in Washington. The originally scheduled opponent, Mando Gutierrez, withdrew due to health issues, leading the bout to be contested at catchweight. Ndebele, who is the PFL Africa champion in the 2025 welterweight division, won by unanimous decision with a score of 30-26.
The South African fighter displayed a high level of skill, showcasing clinical and composed mixed martial arts tactics. His signature precise strikes, impeccable timing, and high in-fight intelligence allowed him to methodically break down Davis across three dominant rounds. Ndebele utilized clean front strikes, knees, and sharp combinations, while masterfully controlling distance and positioning. His style drew comparisons to Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort, earning widespread approval from fans.
On the same evening, alongside Ndebele, his teammate from SOMA Fight Club, Eliezer Kubantsa, also shone. Opening the main card, Kubantsa, a PFL Africa alumnus, defeated Chris Mixan by applying an Armbar in the second round. Kubantsa began the fight with aggressive intentions, overwhelming Mixan with powerful strikes, before transitioning to grappling and finishing the contest midway through the second round.
In the main event of the night, Ted Jean successfully defended his PFL welterweight championship title by defeating Ernesto Rodriguez via technical knockout in the third round. Jean faced difficulties after an early takedown by the dangerous Cuban, who was close to a major upset. Rodriguez turned the fight into a striking exchange, closing the distance and unleashing powerful combinations, but Jean withstood the onslaught and responded decisively in the third round. A series of crushing blows led to Rodriguez falling, after which Jean unleashed a barrage of ground strikes until the referee stopped the fight, making the 'Silver Bear' the new champion in the capital city.
The co-main event also concluded with a spectacular finish: Brazilian Rafael Javier stopped Tyson Pedro late in the first round. Javier initially shocked the Australian with a series of devastating head strikes, then followed him to the canvas, unleashing a relentless flurry of elbow strikes that resulted in a deep cut and referee intervention in the final seconds of the first round. This dominant victory is expected to help Javier climb the heavyweight rankings.
Khalil Ben Youssef, the coach of Durban City, stated the necessity of bringing in additional players to help the team successfully manage a demanding schedule that includes participation in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The newly appointed coach of Durban City emphasized that the team requires more footballers to have a chance of success in the CAF Confederation Cup this season. Adding depth to the squad will help the 'Citizens' in the upcoming season, as they participate in several tournaments, including the Betway Premiership, MTN8, Nedbank Cup, and CAF Confederation Cup.
According to Youssef, acquiring players such as Sandile Shandu and Gaston Sirino would be extremely valuable this season due to their experience in CAF competitions.
These statements were made after Durban City lost 5-4 on penalties in the KZN Premier Cup on Saturday. Ben Youssef noted that the team met expectations before the match. He added that the team played very well in the first and second halves, but in the final third of the field, he felt they lacked creativity and decisiveness.
He also highly praised the defensive play, noting that the opponent did not create many chances. This match served as a good test to assess the current level of the team before the championship against Sekhukhune.
Although Youssef expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, he believes they lack two or three players to provide greater confidence in the squad. Since many competitions are scheduled for the season, additional players are needed for rotation. Last season, Durban City succeeded by winning the Nedbank Cup and receiving a prize money of 7 million rand, funds which are expected to have been used to bring in former Chiefs coach Ben Youssef and Sirino.
Ben Youssef also commented that last year's squad had a good foundation, but required refinement in the attacking zone. He mentioned that Jean Lubumba was one of the few attacking players in a team known for its solid defense. Durban's main task this season will be scoring goals and finding spaces between the league's best defensive lines.
Explaining his hiring decision, Ben Youssef clarified that the choice was not based on personal knowledge of players like Morris and Sirino, but on the need for footballers with African playing experience. He stressed that when participating in the Confederation Cup, there must be at least three players familiar with the tournament to support the others, and attracting such players will increase team confidence.
AmaZulu FC head coach Arthur Zweyn has denied rumors of a potential departure from the club, stating his full dedication to the long-term project in Usuthu following an impressive fourth-place finish in the Betway Premier League season.
Zweyn previously joined AmaZulu in 2024 as a co-coach alongside Vosumuzi Vilakazi before taking sole responsibility for the first team. In his first full season under Zweyn's guidance, the team achieved fourth place in the Betway Premiership but failed to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup.
Reports suggest that his successful work attracted the attention of Sekhukhune United, as there were indications that the Limpopo-based team had offered a more lucrative financial proposal, attempting to lure him away from Durban.
Speaking on Ukhozi FM radio, Zweyn acknowledged that speculation is inevitable at the end of every season, but emphasized that neither he nor the club's management ever doubted his continued presence at AmaZulu. He noted that although there are discussions about the coach's performance, the president and CEO always knew the club's plan.
Zweyn explained that the lack of panic among the technical staff or himself is because the project was presented to him by President Sandile Zungu upon his appointment. He stated that the vision presented by the club was so significant that he could not refuse it, regardless of external interests.
Referring to his playing experience, Zweyn stressed that patience and loyalty have been key to his success, and he believes these principles apply to coaching as well. He added that, like the players who approached him, he always knew what he wanted and chose it, which helped him build a long career.
He advised against chasing anything if the current workplace provides support. The 51-year-old coach described AmaZulu as a club where he sees an opportunity for further professional growth. Zweyn believes that the AmaZulu project possesses a 'spirit of God' and is capable of fostering his development. He concluded that no offers, even with huge sums of money, would change his decision, as he feels good in the KwaZulu-Natal province and knows it will bring him pride and allow him to continue growing.
Abu Dhabi has become a gathering place for MMA fans thanks to the UFC event held at the iconic Etihad Arena. Spectators arrived through various means: some crossed the border on foot, while others flew in from Europe, Africa, and Central Asia.
Upon entering the Etihad Arena on Saturday evening, many languages were heard, including Arabic, Russian, Hindi, Polish, Kazakh, Uzbek, and English. Fans traveled thousands of kilometers to attend the UFC Abu Dhabi event.
Tariq Al-Balushi traveled from Sohar in Oman to support Magomed Zhanyukov, known as Chanko. He noted that hosting the UFC in Abu Dhabi is incredible, and they plan to return on Monday.
Rohan Sharma flew in from Pune, stating that the three-hour flight made Abu Dhabi an ideal destination for a UFC-focused weekend. He emphasized the rapid growth of MMA in India and the admiration for the chance to see world fighters up close.
Daniyar Kasymov came from Almaty, Kazakhstan, to support Central Asian fighters. According to him, Abu Dhabi has become a landmark meeting point for fans from across the region, as Central Asian fighters are actively conquering the UFC.
Mateusz Kowalski flew in from Poland, turning a week of fights into a vacation. He highly praised the atmosphere in Abu Dhabi, noting that it differs from events in Europe, and planned his time with beach activities during the day and fights in the evening.
Kofi Mansa from Accra, Ghana, came to support African MMA. He expressed hope for the quick return of the UFC to Africa but currently considers Abu Dhabi a place where fans gather from all corners of the world.
Among the loudest cheers on fight night for the main card was the support for Chanko and Magomed Ankalaev. Shamil Magomedov, who arrived from Makhachkala in Dagestan, stated that the trip was worth every kilometer after watching his compatriot's dominant performance.
He noted Chanko's and Magomed's complete mastery, adding that Ankalaev demonstrates power in boxing and wrestling, and believes the next goal is the championship title.
