Current UFC middleweight champion Drikas du Plessis is hoping to move up to make his next 185-pound title defense in Africa.
Turns out the same goes for UFC CEO Dana White.
Unfortunately for everyone involved, arranging a large-scale pay-per-view (PPV) event in that part of the world proved difficult. That’s because the available venues are outdoors, and we all know how “scary” that is for White.
“You know how much I want this,” White told reporters after last night’s Contender Series. “I’ve been trying to get this done. The local arena situation is tough. It’s hard to get done. That’s been the challenge across Africa. We’re trying to figure it out. We’re trying to figure it out. The place you have to be is outside, but you know how I feel about that. So I’ve been trying to look up the weather and one of the big things I’ve heard there is that wind is a big problem. I’ve done it a few times, but I don’t want to try anything that could affect the outcome of the fight: wind, rain, insects, too much moisture. Many things can get in the way of a fight.”
If you build it, they will come.
White confirmed that former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland is Du Plessis’ next choice. “Tarzan” lost the strap in a close decision when he faced “Stillnox” at UFC 297 in Toronto earlier this year.
Australia is expected to be a backup if UFC Africa is eliminated.
