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Abderrahim Errachidy will make his Professional Fighters League Africa debut in Johannesburg on Saturday, but not as part of the featherweight tournament.
The Moroccan was originally scheduled to face South Africa’s Elbert Steyn in a first-round bout, but both men failed to make the 145lb limit at Friday’s official weigh-in. They each registered 148lbs, with the contest now reclassified as a non-tournament catchweight showcase. It means Errachidy’s first appearance under the PFL banner will be about making an impression rather than chasing points in the league’s inaugural African season.
PFL Africa, launched this year, mirrors the global promotion’s trademark format: a win-and-advance tournament in which fighters earn points for victories and stoppages, with the eventual champions crowned after the play-offs.
The Johannesburg event marks the continuation of the First Round following the season’s opening in Cape Town last month.
The Big Top Arena at Carnival City will also stage the featherweight main event between Nigeria’s Patrick “Starboi” Ocheme (144.6lbs) and Guinea’s Mohamed “Lamo Mohamed” Camara (145.6lbs), while the welterweight co-main features Angola’s Shido Boris “Machine” Esperanca (170.6lbs) against Ibrahima “Freezer” Mané (170.6lbs) of Gambia.
Elsewhere on the card, British Boloyoang (170lbs) meets Octave Ayinda (169.8lbs), Sanon Sadeck (170.2lbs) faces Yabna N’tchala (168.4lbs) and Osvaldo Benedito (168lbs) takes on Emilios Dassi (169.6lbs) in further welterweight contests. Featherweight bouts pit Wasi Adeshina (145.8lbs) against Jean Jacques Lubaya (144.6lbs) and Wilker Nsamo (144.8lbs) against Dwight Joseph (145.2lbs).
Abdoul Razac Sankara (146lbs) meets Shadrack Yemba (146lbs) in a tournament bout that replaces the withdrawn Errachidy–Steyn fixture, while Desmond Tamungang (168.2lbs) faces Kunle Lawal (170.4lbs) in a welterweight alternate contest.
