Will the UFC finally make its way to Africa?

 A significant victory for South African fighter Dricus du Plessis over Nigerian-born Israel Adesanya has paved the way for a UFC event in Africa, a continent that has yet to host a bout in the mixed martial arts organization’s 31-year history.

Following his win at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, where he retained his middleweight title, du Plessis declared, "Tonight Africa won regardless." This high-profile fight emphasized Africa's role in the sport, despite UFC's history of overlooking the continent.

Former champion Adesanya, who moved from Nigeria to New Zealand at age 10 but considers himself a representative of both nations, faced scrutiny from du Plessis regarding African representation in the UFC. Du Plessis questioned whether the titles ever made their way to Africa, noting that other prominent fighters like Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou, although born in Africa, now reside in the USA and France, respectively.

After the fight, both fighters showed mutual respect. Du Plessis, who entered the octagon accompanied by South African rugby stars Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi, emphasized that his intention was never to disrespect Adesanya's African roots.

UFC President Dana White hinted at the possibility of an African event, saying, "If [Du Plessis] can beat Izzy [Adesanya] and bring that belt back to South Africa, obviously we'll do an event there." Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis expressed his support on social media, urging White to make the event a reality.

The UFC sees Africa as a promising market for expansion, with a growing fan base in countries like South Africa and Nigeria. UFC executive David Shaw noted the organization's determination to deliver a significant event on the continent, acknowledging the rising interest from African audiences.

As the UFC continues to host events across Australia, Asia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East, Africa seems poised to be the next destination for a major UFC fight.