Five champs crowned at PFC judgement day

PFC Gym closed off the year or rather, held its final event of the year by staging an absolute banger of a fight card this past weekend, titled Judgement Day.

With a packed venue at Camps Bay High School and energy levels through the roof, the event delivered everything from knockouts to tactical battles across boxing, K1, and MMA bouts.

A total of five titles were on the line, including a much-anticipated boxing heavyweight championship clash. Nearly 30 fights were scheduled, showcasing both up-and-coming talent and fighters on the verge of breaking into the professional scene. If the aim was to go out with a bang for the year, then PFC didn’t just hit the mark, but they set it on fire.

The headline bout of the night was a K1 title defense that saw reigning champion Wade Hammond go toe-to-toe with Osea Mosehla in a five-round war. The two athletes went back and forth in an exhausting and relentless display of technical K1 fighting, and in the end, Hammond retained his belt via a points decision.

That main event, however, wasn’t the only pro-level action. In fact, both the headline and the co-main K1 fights were contested under professional rules. The co-main event featured Yandisa Ngqwarhu against Jean-Claude Dixon in a fast-paced showdown that set the tone for the rest of the main event. Ngqwarhu edged out a win via the judges’ scorecards.

Before that was the boxing heavyweight title match, which quite literally rocked the venue. Local favourite and PFC’s own Liam Pearmain squared off against Antonio Gomes, a matchup that had been talked about for weeks. When Pearmain landed a devastating knockout blow that sent Gomes to the canvas, the crowd erupted. More than half the hall, clearly rooting for the home fighter, went absolutely bananas. The knockout wasn’t just a win but possibly the moment of the night.

In the MMA portion of the card, fans were treated to three title fights, each one showing a different side of the sport’s versatility. Reuben Job, a rising star with slick stand-up, faced off against Jonas Dondo, whose grappling proved to be the difference-maker. Dondo neutralised Job’s striking and ultimately took home the Bantamweight title via decision.

Next up, Devon Sarkis wasted no time in his featherweight title bout against Clayton Cornelius. It took just minutes into the first round for Sarkis to secure a ground-and-pound finish. Cornelius never quite got going, and Sarkis made the most of his opportunity whenhe  had his opponent on his back early in the fight.

The action never slowed through the night. In the lightweight title fight, Kudakwashe Mutanga delivered an emphatic KO over Terrence Kuture. After taking him down early, he continued to land heavy blows before the ref stepped in.

While the results were memorable, the broader consensus from the gyms and coaches in attendance was even more significant. There are few, if any, amateur promotions in the country that prepare fighters for the pro scene quite like PFC. From the fight announcements and weigh-ins to the logistics, prep, and professionalism on show, PFC continues to set the gold standard. Run by the Addinalls, the promotion has become a trusted launchpad for fighters aiming for professional careers.

With many of the night’s competitors now showing enough grit to make a run towards pro ranks, this may well have been the last amateur appearance for some of the standouts, while the promotion continues to feed the local MMA enthusiasts with much-appreciated blow-by-blow action.