Nkosi Ndebele proud to defend PFL title on home soil

By Rynhardt Kuhn
5th April 2026

PFL Africa Bantamweight Champion, Nkosi Ndebele is fired up to be fighting in South Africa again when he sets out to defend his title on April 10 at SunBet Arena Time Square, Pretoria.

‘The king of all nations’ captured PFL bantamweight gold in Benin last year with a masterful and dominant win over Boule Godogo, but a title defence in front of his own people and fellow countrymen is his next target when he headlines the first fight card of PFL Africa season 2.

In an exclusive conversation with SABC Sport, the diepsloot dangerman, now fighting out of Bali, previews his upcoming bout against Italian Michele Clemente.

“I’ve been preparing for this fight for over two months back in Bali and I feel great. It’s always hard work with my team back in Soma Fight Club, and we never take any opponent for granted when we prepare.”

The highly technical mixed martial artist won three fights on the bounce in 2025, and he is itching to put on a spectacular performance in South Africa for the first time in quite some time.

“This is more like a homecoming for me because I haven’t fought here in Gauteng for almost eight years now, and the last time I fought here I was still in the amateur scene.

“Coming back home with one of the best promotions right now in the PFL, it’s amazing and I’m excited to be performing in front of my friends and the people who know where everything started, and the people who know me from when I was doing karate in Diepsloot. I’m more motivated than ever,” said the champ.

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In his last outing, Ndebele revealed that he adopted a killer mindset to not only capture the title, but become one of the biggest stars on the PFL roster.

The key to victory in Benin was Ndebele’s nasty ‘teeps’, well timed kicks to the body and precise punches, as he explains…

“I’m very intelligent in the cage, so when I get in there I look at my opponents style, fighting stance and movements before I choose what secret weapon to use before I pick him apart.”

Ndebele’s rival for the title, Michele Clemente hasn’t fought since June 2024, so the champion has been forced to study some older footage of the Italian.

“He’s been out for some time, so I just studied some old clips of him. Some say he’s a grappler, others say he is a striker, but I don’t see either. They say he’s explosive but I guess we’ll have to find out about that part when we get into the cage.”

Last time out in Benin, former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Francis Ngannou wrapped the belt around Ndebele’s waist – signifying the takeover of the next generation, and the kind of recognition Ndebele has been fighting for his whole life, but on April 10, the chance to fight on home soil under the lights and in front of thousands is another opportunity for Nkosi Ndebele to prove why he is one of the best in his craft, not only in Africa but the rest of the world.