UFC: Senegal Touted as First Possible African Country to Host an Event

• It is only a matter of time before an Ultimate Fighting Championship event is hosted in Africa
• The organisation is already blessed with the best fighters on earth in each respective division
• Senegal is reportedly being looked at as the first country on the continent to host a UFC event

Senegal is being looked at to host the Ultimate Fighting Championship's first-ever event in Africa.

Africa is the only continent yet to host a UFC event, but Dana White and the company intend to rectify this fact.

UFC's chief operating officer, Lawrence Epstein told BBC Sport Africa an event in Africa had been on their radar for many years.

"The first thing we look for is an arena that suits our size requirements. We like those arenas that are within the 12,000 to 20,000 [seats] range. Africa certainly has some smaller arenas - there is nothing wrong with that - but we like to pack arenas, to create a tremendous amount of energy and, of course, the more tickets you have to sell the better."

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Epstein also mentioned Dakar leading the way with successful events at one of the larger arenas in sub-Saharan Africa.

"Senegal is top of the list based upon the information that our team has put together. The next step is to get our entire operation team down to do a site survey, evaluate the arena and all the infrastructure we need to put on an event."

Francis Ngannou (Cameroon), Kamaru Usman, and Israel Adesanya (both Nigerian-born) have raised the profile of the UFC and mixed martial arts fighting across the continent, BBC Sport Africa also reported.

This is thanks to their achievements as champions in the sport governed by the organisation.

Adesanya focuses on Du Plessis

Sports Brief has also reported on a budding rivalry between Adesanya and unbeaten South African middleweight, Dricus du Plessis.

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The two Africans are likely to collide in the ring soon and judging by their behaviour, they are occupying the other's thoughts lately.

Because of the South African's recent utterances, the reigning middleweight champion, Adesanya is deadset on fighting Du Plessis.