Maxwell Djantou Nana, a heavyweight fighter hailing from Cameroon, is the newest addition to the PFL roster. He has clearly stated his goal: to not only emulate but eventually surpass the achievements of his famous countryman, Francis Ngannou.
This powerful heavyweight made his Professional Fighters League debut last summer in Washington D.C. In a noteworthy performance watched cageside by Ngannou himself, Djantou secured a dominant second-round finish against Kent Mafileo. His next challenge is set for July 19 in South Africa, where he will face Mickael Groguhe in the opening round of the inaugural PFL Africa season.
Djantou has been a long-time follower and fan of Ngannou`s career, witnessing his devastating knockout victories over high-profile opponents like Alistair Overeem, Stipe Miocic, and most recently, Renan Ferreira. Now, Djantou is determined to carve out his own path and establish himself as the next generation of Cameroonian combat sports stars.
Maxwell Djantou Nana`s Ambitious Plan to Overtake Francis Ngannou`s Status
Maxwell Djantou Nana transitioned into mixed martial arts from a background in sambo, where he was a champion before entering the cage in 2022. He harbors significant aspirations, starting with success in the PFL Africa tournament and ultimately aiming to become an even more prominent figure in the sport than Francis Ngannou.
In an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow, Djantou expressed his admiration for Ngannou: “People really like Francis because he made the dream become reality and he proved to all of the world that anything is possible,” he explained. “We love Francis in Cameroon, every single person likes him, he’s a good guy.”
Regarding a potential future clash, he commented, “It’s going to be a good thing not just for MMA and Cameroon if me and him eventually fight. I stay focused and look forward to every single possibility… I want to thank the PFL so much because they’re going to understand so much how Africa has so much talent.”
Djantou further highlighted the depth of talent on the continent: “We have so many very good fighters in Africa from the young to the older ones. It’s a great opportunity for us to prove to everyone in the world that we have so much fighters… Now, we’re going to have a new face in MMA, not just Francis, we have Maxwell now and every single fight is a good finish.”
PFL Africa Season Premieres July 19 in South Africa
Following the successful implementation of their global World Tournament and regional series in Europe and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA), PFL Africa represents the next strategic move in the promotion`s widespread global expansion efforts.
The African leg of the expansion begins this summer. The promotion`s future plans include PFL Pacific, scheduled to bring events to Australia and New Zealand next year, with an Asian league also in development for 2026.
The stated long-term vision is to create a `Champions League of MMA`. This system would see winners from the various regional tournaments advancing to compete against each other in the global World Tournament.
Ultimately, the champions from the World Tournament are intended to progress to the Champions Series. In this elite competition, they would challenge champions and top-tier fighters acquired through the Bellator merger, alongside existing PFL stars like Francis Ngannou and Dakota Ditcheva, for major championships.
