Angolan fighter Shido Boris Esperança delivered one of the most decisive wins of the night at the PFL Africa semifinals in Kigali, knocking out Cameroon’s Octave Ayinda in the first round.
The electrifying bout, held at BK Arena on Saturday, October 18, 2025, came after a tense buildup that saw both fighters exchange heated words online and nearly come to blows during their first face-off in Rwanda.
Esperança, however, chose to let his fists do the talking. “Life is too short to hate people,” he said after the fight. “But I don’t want to be his friend because he crossed the line when he talked about my family and my country. Tonight, I made him respect my name.”
From the opening bell, Esperança fought with controlled aggression. He absorbed early punches before countering with sharp striking and heavy combinations that left his opponent struggling to respond.
A relentless barrage in the final moments of the first round forced the referee to stop the fight, earning Esperança a technical knockout victory and a spot in the PFL Africa Welterweight Final.
Speaking after the fight, Esperança said his victory was not just personal, but symbolic for all African fighters working to make their mark internationally.
“We are showing that we have the level to be among the best in the world. Africans have the genetics, the spirit, everything to be powerful fighters. PFL Africa is giving us the opportunity to show the world that we can do something special,” he said.
He admitted the mental pressure of competition is his biggest challenge, especially after every win. “After every fight, people expect more from you. Everyone asks when your next fight is, and if you’ll win again. That pressure is heavy. But that’s what keeps me moving, I train so hard for that next win,” he explained.
Esperança described this semifinal as more personal than his previous bouts. “My last fight in South Africa was strictly professional, no emotions, no words. But this one was different. I was facing someone with mental issues, someone who disrespected me publicly. I wanted to shut his mouth, not with trash talk, but with a knockout. And I did it,” he said.
Looking ahead to the final, Esperança remains focused. His next opponent, Yabna N’tchala of Guinea-Bissau, promises a tough challenge, but the Angolan fighter is confident. “He’s good, he’s big, and experienced but I’ve been working all my life for this. No one can stop me right now,” he said.
The PFL Africa event, attended by President Paul Kagame, MMA icon Francis Ngannou, and WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán, marked a historic milestone as Rwanda hosted its first major Mixed Martial Arts competition.
Among all the highlights of the night, Esperança’s thunderous knockout stood out, not just as a victory of strength, but as a statement of pride, resilience, and the rise of African talent on the global stage.
