Highlights: MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter Dricus Du Plessis becomes the middleweight world champion in the UFC league, the most important in this martial art. He defeated the reigning champion, Sean Strickland, after a close match in the fifth and final round and by split decision of the judges. The fight was also followed in the DRC and highly appreciated by Hagler Baygon Bombomba, the president of the Congolese MMA federation. “What we lack is, first of all, sponsorship and then, funding to promote African athletes, to provide resources, ” he says.

Another world champion in South Africa. MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter Dricus Du Plessis becomes the middleweight world champion in the UFC league, the most important in this…

MMA: South African Dricus Du Plessis, middleweight world champion

Another world champion in South Africa.

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter Dricus Du Plessis becomes the middleweight world champion in the UFC league, the most important in this martial art.

He defeated the reigning champion, Sean Strickland, after a close match in the fifth and final round and by split decision of the judges.

Dricus Du Plessis thus becomes the first South African to be crowned in the UFC, a victory that he dedicated to his country and which should inspire the rest of the continent.

Toronto, January 21, 2024: South African Dricus Du Plessis defeated American Sean Strickland in the final of the middleweight world championship.

Getty Images via AFP - VAUGHN RIDLEY

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in Johannesburg,

Romain Chanson

An entire country entered the octagon with Dricus Du Plessis and it was to South Africa that he first wanted to pay tribute.

“

Coach, coach, I want my flag

,” shouts Dricus Du Plessis before starting his interview.

“

This country is incredible,

” he said, “

It’s historic

Here he won his seventh fight without defeat in the UFC.

This African victory should inspire other fighters on the continent, according to Avinash Ramtohul, president of the African MMA Confederation (IMMAF) and the Mauritius MMA Federation.

“

It’s something that makes the continent shine because, you know, on the African continent, we have a lot of potential.
It will eventually amplify, especially among young people

,” he hopes.

The fight was also followed in the DRC and highly appreciated by Hagler Baygon Bombomba, the president of the Congolese MMA federation.

He dreams of more resources for his fighters.

“

What we lack is, first of all, sponsorship and then, funding to promote African athletes, to provide resources,

” he says, whose objective is that the fighters can make a living from their sport to concentrate on their career and fight for a world championship belt.

MMA: South African Dricus Du Plessis, middleweight world champion

MMA: South African Dricus Du Plessis, middleweight world champion

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