Best South African venues for Dricus du Plessis’s UFC title defence
The current Middleweight champion is keen to fight in South Africa, though some obstacles must be overcome before a date can be set.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has started making preparations for Dricus du Plessis’s UFC title fight.
Following his promise to bring Formula 1 back to South Africa, McKenzie is adamant at hosting Africa’s first UFC event after du Plessis was promised that he’d have his next fight on home soil.
Before the South African UFC fighter took on Israel Adesanya in August, UFC boss Dana White ensured that if he won, his next fight would be in South Africa, which would be a first for Dricus, the UFC, and Mzansi.
Obstacles that could prevent the fight
Following du Plessis’s successful title defence against Adesanya, McKenzie has wasted no time getting the ball rolling.
He reported on X that, “We have silently worked on it, and we are very close to an official announcement. We have some things to do and fix, but the fight is happening in SA.”
While White loves the thought of hosting a fight in Africa, he has concerns surrounding the nation’s stadiums and climate, saying, “You know how bad I want this. I’ve been trying to get this done. The arena situation there is tough. That’s been the challenge with Africa as a whole. The place where we’d have to do it at, is outdoors, and you know how I feel about that,
“I’ve heard that wind is a problem, and anything that could affect the outcome of a fight makes me not want to try.”
Cape Town or Johannesburg?
Similarly to Formula 1, there’s been plenty of speculation surrounding the venue, such as, where would it take place if all the stars aligned?
Many are pointing their fingers at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium or Soccer City; however, neither fits Whites’ requirements of a closed roof.
Other rumours include Cape Town’s DHL Stadium, however that is unlikely if the organisers are hoping to avoid wind or any rogue weather patterns that could affect the fight.
Dricus du Plessis’s next opponent will be America’s Sean Strickland who has a record of 29-6-0 – the African middleweight champion, who is four years younger, has a 22-2-0 record.
Wherever this battle unfolds, it’s set to be the ultimate clash of combat prowess.