“I know the conversations are there between the UFC and South Africa, and the sports ministers, and the cities, and the arenas—everything is in conversation.” Dricus Du Plessis told the New York Post ahead of his title defense against Khamzat Chimaev. Since 2017, the South African middleweight champion hasn’t fought on home soil, but he hasn’t given up hope yet. He is continuing his efforts to persuade the UFC to finally make its debut on the continent, if possible South Africa.

Recently, the PFL beat the UFC to it by hosting an event in Cape Town on July 19. Now, however, the 31-year-old’s optimism is starting to wane. While Dana White reportedly turned down Illia Topuria ’s desire to host UFC 317 in Spain, Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t want to walk down the same aisle.

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