The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie says talks are underway with the management of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to bring the sporting spectacle to South Africa.
McKenzie has congratulated Dricus Du Plessis for defending his middleweight UFC belt against Israel Adesanya in Perth this weekend.
McKenzie says he had dispatched a team to Perth to meet with UFC’s management to discuss bringing Dricus’ next title defence to South Africa.
“We are excited at how close we are to realising this goal, and an announcement will be made soon. UFC are keen to bring this incredibly popular sport to Africa, and a now established African champion is making it even more likely.”
This is who we are as a South Africans, one nation & sport crazy. Thank you @dricusduplessis, my voice is gone. Thanks @UFCNews for keeping your word. We doing this things on home soil 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/ozgVYawJ9P
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) August 18, 2024
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has also indicated Cape Town will be keen to host an UFC event, promising that if Dricus won, Cape Town would put in a bid to host it.
Messages of congratulations for Dricus was pouring in over the weekend, even grabbing the attention of President Cyril Ramaphosa:
”Congratulations, Dricus Du Plessis, on retaining your UFC middleweight world championship with a submission in #UFC305. As a bonus, you kept our Flag flying hours after the Springboks scored an historic a 2-0 series win in Perth as well. We couldn’t wish for a better day in the office.”
Dricus’ UFC victory was made all the more sweet with the presence of the Springboks in Perth, which made it possible for two great rugby legends, Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth, to walk Dricus out ahead of the fight and be there to share the joy.
Even when the crowd was booing Dricus, the South Africans could be heard shouting their support, no one more loudly than Kolisi.
READ: History made as Dricus becomes new UFC middleweight champion of the world!
