Dana White has never been one to shy away from bold statements, and his latest pronouncement is no exception. The UFC CEO has teased the tantalizing possibility of a first-ever UFC pay-per-view event in South Africa but with a catch.
This historic event hinges on the outcome of the upcoming UFC 305 main event between middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former titleholder Israel Adesanya. Speaking at the post-fight press conference for Dana White’s Contender Series 67, the UFC boss laid out his vision.
“Everything is on the line, especially because they dislike each other so much…And if he can beat Izzy and bring the belt back to South Africa, uh, obviously, we’re doing it back there. And, uh, if Izzy can win the title…suits for having his legacy,” said White.
The stakes for the UFC 305 headliner, set for this Saturday, have suddenly skyrocketed. ‘Stilknocks’ now carries the hopes of an entire nation on his shoulders. It is not just about defending his title; it is more about potentially bringing the UFC name to his home African soil for the first time.
For now, all eyes are on UFC 305. Dricus Du Plessis enters as the underdog, with DraftKings sportsbook giving Adesanya a slight edge at -105. But with the added motivation of bringing the UFC to his homeland, Du Plessis might find that extra gear needed to upset the odds.
UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis Sets Sights On Bringing Octagon To South African Soil
Du Plessis was fresh off his hard-fought victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 as he discussed his next move. Not content to bask in the glow of his title win, the South African fighter has already set his sights on a new goal: bringing the UFC to his homeland.
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‘Stillknocks’ addressed the possibility of a South African UFC event during the UFC 297 post-fight press conference. When informed of UFC CEO Dana White’s longstanding ambition to take the promotion to Africa, Du Plessis jumped on the bandwagon.
“It gonna be now for a long time now. But yeah, I think it’s time. We’ve worked our a***s off to get this event to Africa and South Africa, and it’s time that happens,” said Dricus Du Plessis
The champion’s enthusiasm is palpable, and for good reason. Du Plessis now joins an elite group of African-born UFC champions, including Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Francis Ngannou. However, Du Plessis stands out as the first to capture UFC gold while training exclusively on African soil. This unique achievement could be the tipping point that finally brings the first UFC event to the continent.
