PFL Africa touches down in Kigali, Rwanda, this weekend, with the East African nation enjoying host to a number of the continent’s best up-and-coming MMA abilities. Headlining the occasion is a semi-final featherweight conflict between Nigeria’s Patrick Ocheme and Burkina Faso’s Abdoul Razac Sankara.
The electrifying Sankara booked his ticket to Kigali with a shocking first-round KO victory over the Congo’s Shadrick Dju Yemba at PFL Africa 2 again in August.
On his promotional debut, Sankara, who entered the PFL as an alternate, made followers sit up and take discover after touchdown a picture-perfect question mark kick that despatched Yemba crashing to the canvas. It was the kind of strike that fighters dream about and rapidly racked up 1000’s of on-line views.
Nonetheless, for these acquainted with Sankara’s background, the strike was no shock, because the 24-year-old is a embellished Muay Thai fighter with nationwide and AML world titles, now aiming to take the MMA world by storm in 2025.
“It was superb for me, I imply, I don’t know how one can clarify this in phrases, but it surely was superb,” Sankara defined, chatting with LowKickMMA about his win over Yemba.
Born in Burkina Faso, Sankara lives in Côte d’Ivoire however trains in Lomé, the capital of Togo, at Pitbull Health club. He fell in love with fight sports activities as a youth, and whereas boys his age dreamed of turning into footballers, martial arts was all the time Sankara’s ardour.
“Since I used to be youthful, I simply favored preventing. I didn’t know how one can play soccer, however I simply love preventing. However after I was youthful, I didn’t dream of being a fighter. However after I began coaching and did properly, I made a decision to be a fighter. I really feel good doing this, and it has develop into a giant dream.”
Standing reverse Sankara when the cage doorways shut this weekend will likely be a fighter thought-about one of many favourites to take out the inaugural PFL Africa Featherweight Title. South Africa-based Ocheme comes into this bout on a five-fight profitable streak, with three of these victories coming by way of KO.
Nonetheless, whereas Sankara respects his opponent, he’s assured he has what it takes to maneuver on to the finals.
‘”I noticed many, many movies of him. He’s not too dangerous. He is an effective fighter, however I’m the very best,” Sankara stated.
“So for me, it’s nearly time, and now it’s my time. It’s Sankara’s time.”
