The UFC’s relationship with Africa has evolved steadily over the years, fueled by the continent’s increasing interest in mixed martial arts and its rich pool of fighting talent. While Africa may not have hosted as many UFC events as other regions, its influence on the sport has been undeniable, particularly through the rise of exceptional fighters. Beyond individual athletes, Africa’s passion for combat sports has cultivated a thriving grassroots MMA scene. The continent boasts a growing number of regional promotions and gyms producing high-caliber fighters, adding depth to the UFC’s talent pool. However, UFC CEO Dana White doesn’t really plan on hosting an event there anytime soon.
Though the UFC has yet to enter the African market, the organization’s increasing focus on the region suggests that it’s only a matter of time before the Octagon lands on African soil, showcasing the continent’s extraordinary talent to the world. White recently sat down for a chat with Sports Business Journal where he shared his honest opinions on entering the world’s second biggest continent.
In a conversation with Sports Business Journal, White was asked about taking the UFC to Africa, with the UFC head honcho replying, “It’s a great question. That is the problem as we travel around and start doing these things. I love arenas because, because at the end of the day, one of the things that I always like to do is – On Saturday night, whether you came to my event, bought tickets, flew in, or you stayed home and watched a pay-per-view – I want people to walk away with a good experience and not feeling like they wasted their Saturday night. So I don’t do outdoor venues.”
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Basically, what Dana White is alluding to is the lack of arenas to host UFC events in Africa. White doesn’t want to risk holding an event in an outdoor arena because of factors like unpredictable weather or even having to deal with insects like mosquitoes out in the open. Furthermore, an outdoor event with its factors could significantly affect the performance of fighters competing in the Octagon. “So the long-winded answer to your question is no.”, concluded Dana White.
However, all isn’t looking bleak for Africa’s hope for the UFC entering its market. While Dana White may not host an event in Africa anytime soon, he is interested in developing the talent pool from the continent. How does he plan on doing that? Let’s find out.
Dana White has hopes of opening a Performance Institute in Africa soon
The first-ever UFC Performance Institute (PI) was opened in May 2017, marking a groundbreaking moment in the history of the promotion, and the MMA landscape. The state-of-the-art facility, located in Las Vegas quickly became a hub of innovation, research, and elite-level training. Since its inception, the UFC PI has attracted over 400 athletes worldwide. The success of the OG institute encouraged Dana White to open more centers in Shanghai, China, and Mexico. But it looks like the UFC head honcho doesn’t want to stop there.
Teasing the African market in a DWCS press conference, White said the following, “I’ve been saying this. I said, ‘Wait till we build a PI in Africa.’ I said it to the guys at the table tonight. ‘Wait till we build a PI in Africa, and some of these guys start coming in from, you know, at a young age and learning everything. It’s going to be—it’s like just like Mexico. Wait, wait until five, six, seven years. Mexico, [the] same thing’s going to happen. And who knows? With Africa, it could be even crazier.”
While Africa won’t see any UFC events anytime soon, the continent has given us some of the biggest names in mixed martial arts. The most famous is, of course, the former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who has plans to take PFL to Africa in 2025. Another notable name is Dricus Du Plessis, the current king of the middleweight division fought locally at the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), a prominent South African MMA promotion, before making his way to the UFC. Former champions Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya also had a part of their childhoods spent in Africa, growing up in Nigeria.
The talent pool from Africa looks promising, and the market for African mixed martial arts is only touted to grow. What do you think of Dana White’s difficulty in penetrating the African market? Let us know in the comments down below.
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