Elite Fighters locked in for PNGKBF ‘Last Man Standing’ Quarterfinals

The road to kickboxing glory heats up as the Papua New Guinea Kickboxing Federation (PNGKBF) looks to host its highly anticipated "Last Man Standing" Quarterfinals Series on Sunday, 28 June 2026, at Port Moresby’s Taurama Aquatic and Indoor Center.    

Following a grueling completion of regional Elimination Heats 1 and 2 across the country, a massive field of over 200 fighters has been narrowed down to just 80 elite competitors. These top-tier athletes will clash for a spot in the Semifinals and the ultimate Grand Final later this year.

PNGKBF President and Event Promoter, Stanley "Headhunter" Nandex, emphasized that the "Last Man Standing" tournament is a high-stakes, professional circuit designed to test and showcase only the finest martial artists in PNG to represent the country.

"This platform brings together and promotes the absolute best fighters across five weight divisions, with the idea 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 enables us to identify our weaknesses, make adjustments, and properly equip our fighters before exporting them. 

“Going overseas is a mission, not a luxury vacation. To ensure the highest standard of competition, the tournament is exclusively reserved for nationally and internationally accredited fighters.” 

While the 80 quarter-finalists will battle it out, PNG’s reigning World Title holders, Jeffery 

Daka and Nelson Samson will skip the elimination brackets. In a massive coup for fight fans, Daka and Samson are locked in to face each other in a blockbuster feature bout during the final.

The federation has put money where its mouth is, offering a total prize pool of K100,000.00 to be distributed among competitors (both winners and losers throughout the stages), with the ultimate winners walking away with K10,000.00 each per division.

The event features a true clash of the regions. While the National Capital District (NCD) and Central Province are expected to dominate in numbers, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB) is sending a formidable squad across all divisions. They will be met by a massive contingent traveling down from the Highlands region.

The participating centers confirmed for the tournament include:

• Highlands: Hela, Southern Highlands, Western Highlands, Enga, Jiwaka, Simbu, Eastern Highlands; and

• Momase/Islands/Southern: Madang, Morobe, Buka, NCD, and Central. 

In addition to the main tournament, the event will shine a spotlight on the future of the sport. Undercard matches will feature junior male and female fighters under the age of 15 as part of the PNGKBF development pathway, alongside international & national representatives. The event will also feature the national and regional champions to fight for their spots in the semifinals.

Despite the ongoing logistical and financial challenges of running a demanding national 

program without sponsorship, Nandex said the tournament promises to deliver an explosive, action-packed day of sports entertainment.

The Headhunter has appealed to the public for their support, urging them to purchase tickets and explaining that the only way for the federation to make revenue is to support their programs, both nationally and internationally.

For further media inquiries, interview requests, or event information, do not hesitate to contact the PNGKBF on: 79427691/75230910/74555662 

Email: pngkickboxingfederation@gmail.com