At the beginning of this year, Dricus du Plessis made waves in the UFC by defeating Sean Strickland to capture the middleweight title.
This victory not only earned him the distinction of being the first South African UFC champion but also sparked significant excitement in his home country.
South Africa’s Growing UFC Ambitions
Du Plessis’s success has fueled calls for the UFC to bring an event to South Africa.
The momentum grew even stronger when he recently defended his title against Israel Adesanya.
His victory has once again brought South Africa together in celebration, while the build-up and the fight itself have certainly captured the attention of sports enthusiasts across the nation.
Cape Town, in particular, is being discussed as the ideal location for such a historic event.
However, the UFC requires an indoor venue that can provide a weather-proof environment.
Cape Town’s Preparation for a UFC Event
City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has shared that engineers have been working on four different temporary roof options for Cape Town Stadium.
He mentioned, “We’ve made significant progress.
Once the possibility of hosting a Dricus fight emerged, we immediately began planning because we know the UFC insists on an indoor venue.”
The temporary roof installations could be completed by March 2025, pending approval from government entities, with an estimated cost of around R30 million.
Hill-Lewis emphasized that while the plans are promising, nothing is finalized yet.
“We’re preparing thoroughly with these options, which all have their own benefits and costs,” he said.
Dricus du Plessis’s Dream of Hosting a UFC Event in South Africa
Dricus du Plessis has expressed his strong desire to see a UFC event come to South Africa.
In an exclusive interview earlier this year, he shared his hope that his achievements would lead to the UFC considering South Africa as a venue.
“My one dream is to see the UFC come to South Africa,” du Plessis said.
“I want to prove that being a champion and rallying an entire country around the UFC could make a difference.”
UFC’s Plans and Dana White’s Comments
As UFC297 approaches, UFC President Dana White has hinted at the possibility of hosting an event in South Africa.
White has been vocal about his interest in expanding UFC’s reach to Africa.
“If Dricus becomes the world champion, bringing the UFC to South Africa is a no-brainer,” White remarked.
He added that du Plessis could play a pivotal role in spearheading a UFC event on the continent.
“I’ve been talking about UFC Africa for a while.
Dricus could definitely be the face of a UFC event in South Africa,” White said.
“We’re considering South Africa and its venues for a future fight.”
What’s Next?
As preparations continue and discussions evolve, the future of UFC events in South Africa looks promising.
Fans and fighters alike are eagerly awaiting developments that could bring one of the world’s biggest sporting events to the heart of Africa.
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