26/06/2026
: 80 ELITE FIGHTERS LOCKED IN FOR PNGKBF ‘LAST MAN STANDING’ QUARTER-FINALS
PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA —
The Papua New Guinea Kickboxing Federation (PNGKBF) has confirmed 80 of the country’s best fighters will compete in the highly anticipated “Last Man Standing” Quarter-Final Series on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby.
The quarter-finals follow the successful completion of regional Elimination Heats 1 and 2, which saw more than 200 fighters from across Papua New Guinea battle for qualification. Only the top 80 competitors have secured their place in the next stage of the national tournament.
The fighters will compete across five weight divisions, with the goal of advancing to the semi-finals and eventually the Grand Final later this year.
PNGKBF President and Event Promoter Stanley “Headhunter” Nandex said the “Last Man Standing” tournament was created to identify, develop, and prepare PNG’s finest martial artists for international competition.
“This platform brings together and promotes the absolute best fighters across five weight divisions. The idea is to filter out the cream of the crop,” Nandex said.
“Over the last three years, we have taken fighters overseas on professional cards, but our winning percentage hasn’t been where it needs to be. This concept allows us to identify our weaknesses, adjust, and properly equip our fighters before we export them. Going overseas is a mission, not a luxury vacation.”
The tournament is strictly reserved for nationally and internationally accredited fighters to ensure a high standard of competition.
PNG’s reigning world title holders Jeffery Daka and Nelson Samson will bypass the elimination rounds and are confirmed to meet in a highly anticipated feature bout at the Grand Final.
The federation has also announced a total prize pool of K100,000, which will be distributed among competitors throughout the tournament stages, with Grand Final winners receiving K10,000 per division.
The event will showcase fighters from across the country, with strong representation expected from the National Capital District (NCD), Central Province, the Highlands region, and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB).
Confirmed participating centres include:
Highlands: Hela, Southern Highlands, Western Highlands, Enga, Jiwaka, Simbu, and Eastern Highlands.
Other regions: Madang, Morobe, Buka (AROB), NCD, and Central Province.
The event will also highlight the future of PNG kickboxing, with undercard matches featuring junior male and female fighters under the age of 15 as part of the federation’s development pathway. National and regional representatives will also compete in special match-ups.
Despite ongoing challenges in running a national sporting program without full resource backing, Nandex said the federation was committed to delivering a major sporting event for Papua New Guinea.
He encouraged the public to support the tournament by attending and purchasing tickets, saying gate revenue helps fund the federation’s national and international programs.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2026
Venue: Taurama Aquatic Centre, Port Moresby
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tickets: Adults K15 | Children under 16 K10
For media inquiries and further information, contact PNGKBF on 79427691 or 75230910 / 74555662.
Email: [email protected].
