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Moroccan featherweight Abderrahman Errachidy is set to make his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut on August 9 when he takes on South Africa’s Elbert Steyn in front of his home crowd, in what is being billed as one of the standout matchups on the inaugural PFL Africa card.
The card begins at 5 p.m. Moroccan time (GMT+1) at Carnival City, Johannesburg, South Africa, and MMA fans can catch the action live on SuperSport, Canal+ France, PFL App, and STARZPLAY.
The 24-year-old enters the bout with a professional record of 4-1 and carries with him the weight of Moroccan hopes into the Big Top Arena. “I carry Morocco on my shoulders every time I step in that cage,” Errachidy told Morocco World News. “It’s an honour and a responsibility I don’t take lightly.”
Known for his Taekwondo background, unorthodox kicks, and punishing counters, Errachidy represents a new wave of Moroccan fighters making inroads into top-tier MMA. From an early age, he knew he was cut out to become a fighter: “Let’s just say I was a wild child – always up to mischief,” he said. “MMA felt like home the moment I saw it. It gave my chaos a purpose.”
“I took a punch straight to the face in my first training session,” he laughs. “Felt the pain, loved it. That’s when I knew – this was it.”
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The Casablanca-based fighter credits a pivotal conversation with his coach for pushing him to pursue a professional career. “He pulled me aside and said, ‘You don’t belong here – you belong with the pros.’ That moment changed everything.”
Errachidy’s opponent, Steyn, is a more established figure in the region. A home favourite, the South African is known for his methodical style, mixing high-volume striking with solid grappling. This is expected to be a classic striker-versus-grappler encounter.
“Home turf or not, it’s just another fight,” Errachidy said. “I’m here to shut the lights out and move to the next one.”
The pair meet in the featherweight division (145lb) as part of the PFL’s first official event in Africa.
PFL, launched in 2018, has quickly established itself as a serious contender in the MMA world, offering a league-style format with regular-season bouts, playoffs and $1 million championship finals. Its regional branches – including PFL MENA and PFL Europe – are now joined by PFL Africa, chaired by former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
Errachidy is among a growing group of Moroccan athletes signed to the promotion. They include Badreddine Diani (9-3), Taha Bendaoud (4-0), Salah Eddine Hamli (9-0), and Xavier Alaoui (16-6) – all of whom have made headlines in recent PFL MENA and qualified for the semi-finals set to take place on September 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“We’re building something big,” Errachidy said. “I want to be part of that push – leading the next generation, showing them it’s possible.” Still, his focus remains firmly on climbing the ranks. “I want to carve my name into MMA history – not in ink, in gold.”
Saturday’s fight with Steyn may prove a key milestone in that pursuit. The South African, fighting in front of a home crowd, will have the advantage in experience and atmosphere. But Errachidy is unfazed. “We’ve studied him. We’ve got a plan,” he said. “I’ll let the fight do the talking.”
Away from the cage, Abderrahman keeps things simple. He enjoys roast chicken with fried potatoes and admits to having a soft spot for fast food.
But when fight night comes, he shuts the world out. No distractions, no noise – just focus.
His rise has been gritty, not glossy. He trains hard, keeps his circle tight, and swears by the basics. “Wake up. Train. Eat. Sleep. Repeat. Every day’s a grind.”
He grew up looking up to Jon “Bones” Jones. Now, he’s chasing his own legacy.
One last message to the up-and-coming fighters back home, he said: “Keep fighting. Your time’s coming.”
