Nkosi Ndebele sets his gaze on PFL Africa throne

When he last entered the cage for the PFL Africa semifinals, Ndebele’s elite preparation and fight IQ was on full display in Kigali.

Looking back on the fight against Zimbabwe’s Hokonya, the “King of many Nations” says fighting smart was the key to his victory. 

"When you turn pro, which is the moment now where I need to go crazy, I can't. Now I have to train smarter, I have to fight smarter because it's not the amateur anymore. This is the most vital moment for me where I would actually need my body to be 100%,” Ndebele said. 

“So, going back to that fight man, I had to fight very smart. I fight guys who are hungry now, I used to be there, I've been there, I'm still hungry now but that hunger of wanting to rise when you're facing someone who's deemed to be the best, you want to prove yourself. 

“So, I've been there, I've been to a point where I needed to prove myself. Now I'm fighting guys who want to prove themselves as well through me or using me, so, if I'm not smart enough to use my experience, I will fall short because my body won't allow me to do certain stuff that I want to do. 

“So, right now, in the last fight it was all just about experience, which I used to fight really, really smart."

Ndebele currently trains out of the serene country of Bali, where he obtained a masterful TKO victory three years ago at BRAVE 66. After that bout, the cunning mixed martial artist immediately fell in love with Bali’s nature and fighting culture. 

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Although he secured victory in Rwanda, the split decision amongst the judges left him and many other fight fans perplexed, but nonetheless, Ndebele has vowed to finish his next opponent to leave no doubt and prevent any kind of uncertainty or controversy.

The Bantamweight champion is currently sharpening his weapons before going to battle with a tough undefeated prospect, but Ndebele reveals that he has pinpointed the gaps in his opponent’s game, and believes victory will soon be his. 

"I've seen most of his fights, I've seen when he fought the first round in South Africa. I've seen him when he fought the second round in Kigali and the good thing about it is that both fights actually covered everything about MMA,” he added. 

“The first guy that he fought was a stand up guy, they stood up and banged against each other. The second guy that he fought was mainly a wrestler, and judo guy so he kept on shooting and they were wrestling a lot. 

“The first time he was fighting a stand up guy, he just swung, no precision no nothing, he still lacks experience on his side. I wouldn't look down on the fact that he's a fighter you know, the fact that he can step into the cage you know, big ups to him. 

“I'm not gonna look down on him or anything, but when it comes to experience, I'm way more experienced than him and I think he has a lot more openings than I do, a lot."

Growing up in trying conditions in Diepsloot, Nkosi enjoyed his first taste of fighting at his local karate gym, and he hasn’t looked back since. Competitive fighting was a way for him to escape the gangsterism and bullying prevalent in his community at the time. The Bantamweight bruiser has shared a word of inspiration for the next generation of fighters hailing from tough neighbourhoods…

"It's okay to come out of a poor background and a difficult neighbourhood, but one thing that is not okay, is to use that as an excuse for your future self. You are 100% responsible for putting yourself out there because God has a plan for you."

Ndebele has already achieved what many thought was once a distant dream, but on December 20, the South African star seeks to add to his legacy by winning the PFL Africa Bantamweight tournament and the $100 000 cash prize that comes with victory in Benin.