One fighter at the PFL’s second-ever Africa event pulled out something special from his toolbox.
After a successful event on July 18 that saw the Professional Fighters League become the first global promotion to stage mixed martial arts action in Africa, the SmartCage was back in South Africa.
Following a marquee Cape Town show that included PFL Africa 1 and a Champions Series lineup that featured the likes of Dakota Ditcheva, Johnny Eblen, and Corey Anderson, the PFL’s latest regional expansion continued on August 9 in Johannesburg.
After the bantamweight and heavyweight brackets began last time out, Saturday was the turn of the featherweights and welterweights at PFL Africa 2. And a 145-pounder made sure they were among the biggest statement-makers on the night…
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Abdul Razac Sankara sleeps rival with perfect question mark kick at PFL Johannesburg
After a decision opened the card at Big Top Arena, the fans in attendance at PFL Africa 2 were quickly treated to a dose of brutality courtesy of Abdul Razac Sankara, a professional from Burkina Faso who entered his fight with a 6-4 record.
The 24-year-old made it three wins in a row, and it is safe to say that his latest triumph was his most impressive yet — and among 2025’s very best across any organization.
Sankara was faced with an undefeated opponent in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Shadrick Dju Yemba. But that fact did not faze him, as the underdog proceeded to put his opponent to sleep with a thunderous and rarely seen question mark kick.
The finish, which saw Yemba brutally face-plant the canvas, came just over two minutes into the very first round and ensured Sankara would progress to the featherweight semifinals later this year.
Sankara and other impressive victors at PFL Africa 2 continued the momentum from the inaugural event in July, where Costello van Steenis choked out Eblen in the main event to put his name in Upset of the Year contention.
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Fans praise PFL Africa fighter’s brutal knockout
It did not take long for Sankara’s devastating finish to go viral on social media, and MMA fans flocked to give their reactions to the sure-fire Knockout of the Year contender.
“One of the cleanest head kick KOs I’ve seen.”
“Foot hitting right on the side of the jaw is brutal. His brain must have spun inside his skull like a Beyblade.”
“OH MAH GAWD.”
“Oh my, the technique in that.”
“Factory reset.”
“Low kick first then comes back with the question mark kick. Nasty.”
“Oh my god that is perfection.”
“He dead.”
“He straight up folded this man.”
“Wow…question mark kicks are beautiful. Pretty sure (Luke) Rockhold has this in his arsenal as well. Great KO.”
PFL Africa marks the third regional expansion to be launched, joining PFL Europe and PFL MENA. The organization is planning to create more in a bid to form the ‘Champions League’ of MMA.