Maxwell Djantou Nana is the newest heavyweight contender in the PFL, and he aims to emulate and potentially surpass his countryman, Francis Ngannou.
This powerful striker debuted in the PFL last summer in Washington D.C., securing a second-round knockout against Kent Mafileo with Ngannou watching cageside. Now, he is set to compete in the inaugural PFL Africa season, facing Mickael Groguhe in the first round on July 19 in South Africa.
Djantou has long admired Ngannou, witnessing his brutal knockouts against fighters like Alistair Overeem, Stipe Miocic, and most recently, Renan Ferreira. Now, Djantou is focused on carving his own legacy as the next prominent Cameroonian fighter.
Maxwell Djantou Nana Has Major Aspirations to Exceed Francis Ngannou
Maxwell Djantou Nana transitioned to MMA in 2022 after achieving success as a sambo champion. His ambitions are high, aiming to win the PFL Africa tournament and ultimately become an even bigger global name than Francis Ngannou.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Djantou shared his thoughts on Ngannou: “People really like Francis because he made the dream become reality and proved to the whole world that anything is possible. We love Francis in Cameroon; everyone likes him, he`s a good guy.”
“It would be significant for both MMA and Cameroon if I eventually fight him. I stay focused and look forward to every possibility… I really want to thank the PFL; they are going to realize just how much talent Africa possesses.”
“We have many excellent fighters in Africa, both young and old. This is a great opportunity for us to show the world the depth of talent we have… Now, there will be a new face in MMA; it`s not just Francis anymore, now there`s Maxwell, and every fight is going to end well.”
PFL Africa Debuts in South Africa on July 19
Following the introduction of their World Tournament and successful launches of European and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) tournaments, PFL Africa represents the next phase in the promotion`s global expansion.
The PFL Africa season kicks off this summer, followed by PFL Pacific launching in Australia and New Zealand next year. An Asian league is also planned for 2026.
The overarching vision is to create a ‘Champions League of MMA,’ bringing together winners from various regional tournaments to compete in the PFL World Tournament.
Winners from the World Tournament will then advance to the PFL Champions Series, where they will compete for titles against champions and notable fighters from the Bellator merger, alongside established PFL stars like Francis Ngannou and Dakota Ditcheva.
Gareth Pendleton