Terence Balelo is just one of many international stars who cut his teeth under the PFC banner. Photo: EFC
The Professional Fighting Championship has long been a mainstay for combat sports in the Western Cape and South Africa, and fans will be excited to learn about the popular brand’s return next month.
In partnership with Tri-Core, Ring Contact Fighting Arts and Fight Africa, the PFC will now host a much-anticipated show dubbed ‘The Comeback’, following a four-year hiatus.
The event will occur at Camps Bay High School on August 10, and will showcase mixed martial arts, exhibition boxing and K-1 (kickboxing).
The event is set to potentially host up to 20 amateur and professional fights, which could include three title fights.
“With our event taking place on the same weekend as National Women’s Day, there could be a women’s title fight to celebrate this special day, depending on how things go with the matchmaking. We also plan on hosting another two title fights, including an MMA featherweight title fight, but all will be revealed soon,” said the PFC’s Angelo Addinall.
Delivering18-plus events since its inception in May 2012, the PFC provided a platform for the growth of South African amateur and professional athletes, as students of various martial arts, including MMA, and boxing honed their skills and expressed themselves in venues such as the Portuguese Club in Milnerton, or at the Goodwood Prison’s sport and recreation hall.
Many of today’s top international stars, including Faeez Jacobs, Terence Balelo, Karl Bergemann, Adrian Sanchez, Paulwetu Namba, Danie van Heerden and Jessica Mouneimne, have cut their teeth under the PFC banner, stepping through the brand’s ropes, or walking through its cage entrance at one point in their life.
Shortly after the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the PFC took a break from hosting, and during this break there were attempts to get the popular brand up and running again, but the timing and backing were just not right.
This reality saw the amateur and professional fight scene in Cape Town suffer as there were few opportunities.
Since then, there have been many calls from fans, fighters and fight clubs alike asking for the PFC to return.
“We have been begged for a very long time by amateurs and professionals on our social media pages to host,” said the ever-passionate Addinall, the son of Neville Addinall, who started the PFC brand with his wife.
“We’ve been told how much the Cape Town scene misses the PFC family and brand, the matchmaking, the vibe and the platform in general.
“Now, after much deliberation and backing, we, together with our key partners, are ready to launch once again.
“We are sincerely grateful and blessed for our partners and all stakeholders involved.
“We have the right people on board, people and brands that understand the vision, and we’re pushing each other in a collective effort to deliver great things for combat sport in SA.
“The potential on offer is quite incredible. There are world titles that are in the works, and international fighters are set to travel to Cape Town to compete under the PFC banner.
“I can’t say much right now, but I can inform you that some top fights are being booked for future events.”
Like many organisations and businesses, the PFC was also dealt a devastating blow by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
However, the PFC brains trust and its partners rallied together, gathered all their resources and produced one of the first fight events in South Africa during the lockdown.
The show was headlined by Lewis Mataya, who successfully defended his PFC amateur lightweight title against current EFC star Emmanuel Sita.
That event also saw the continued rise of then-amateur Balelo, who went on to become a two-time national champion and two-time Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) champion.
“The PFC being back is music to a fighter’s ears. The brand will give athletes good opportunities, amateur athletes looking to turn pro, especially those who also want to get those kickboxing fights here in South Africa,” said current EFC interim flyweight champion Balelo.
“This show is going to offer athletes invaluable experience, the show set-up, the lights, the cage or ring ... it feels like an EFC vibe.”
The PFC has already started unveiling their fight card with regular updates on their social media platforms, with more updates set to drop in the coming days.
Ticket prices range from R200 up to R400 (VIP), and those keen on booking a table can contact Angelo at 084 746 0436.
“This would not be possible without our partners, the fighters, the fight teams, gyms across South Africa, and our sponsors, Intergro, Share Tech SA, Next Level, Pam Golding, Digital Express, 600CT, and MzansiMMA.”
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