South Africa’s UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has to hope Dana White keeps his word and brings the UFC to South Africa, in a weekend where the nation enjoyed terrific sporting success in rugby and cricket as well.
Earlier this week, the UFC president stated that if Du Plessis successfully defended his title against former two-time champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, he would bring the world's largest MMA promotion to Mzansi.
On Sunday morning, in Perth, Australia, Du Plessis – with Bok captain Siya Kolisi and teammate Eben Etzebeth watching – came good on his end of the deal.
It was an incredible display of fight IQ, cardio and heart from the champion, before he secured a rear naked choke submission in the fourth round of their championship bout.
Now, fans across Africa anxiously wait to hear from White, who has confirmed his organisation is researching South Africa, alongside other countries, as a potential venue for their next major event.
“If Dricus beats Izzy and brings that belt back to South Africa, we will do an event there,” said White, earlier this week.
White has been talking about a UFC Africa event for a while now, and earlier this year, he started laying out some details about breaking ground in the motherland.
“I have been talking about UFC Africa for a long time. It will most likely be South Africa.”
Shortly after Du Plessis’ triumph, Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, confirmed that plans are in motion for the UFC to host an event in South Africa after a fan tweeted the minister, pleading with him to seal the deal.
“We have silently worked on it. The department met with UFC today in Oz, and we are very close to an official announcement. We have some things to do and fix, but the fight is definitely happening in SA. I want to say thank you to Du Plessis’ management team for assisting all the way,” replied the minister.
Before that tweet, McKenzie also posted a video celebration within the RAC Arena, with Kolisi and Etzebeth, who earlier accompanied Du Plessis during his walkout to the Octagon, while the national anthem played.
On Saturday, the Springboks retained the Mandela Challenge Plate, beating the Wallabies in back-to-back Rugby Championship clashes in Australia. A widely considered Bok "B-team" dispatched their hosts, also in Perth, 30-12, to collect a second bonus point victory in as many weekends.
The Boks will return to SA on Monday with the Rugby Championship title within their grasp and two massive home games against the All Blacks to prepare for at a sold out Ellis Park and Cape Town Stadium at the end of August and first weekend of September, respectively.
The Proteas men also celebrated victory, beating the West Indies by 40 runs in the second Test and winning the two-match series 1-0.
Cape Times