Dana White has long envisioned bringing the UFC to Africa. Although Africa hasn’t hosted as many UFC events as other parts of the world, its impact on the sport is impossible to ignore. The continent has produced a wave of elite fighters who’ve left a lasting mark on the global stage. But it’s not just about the stars—Africa’s deep-rooted love for combat sports has sparked the growth of a vibrant grassroots MMA community, fueling the sport’s rise from the ground up. While White remains cautious about battling the elements, another promotion isn’t hesitating—instead, it’s charging forward with no fear.

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) isn’t just making noise—they’re taking action. On July 26, their cage is set to drop in Cape Town. At the iconic Grand West Arena, PFL Africa will kick off with explosive fights and a chance to rewrite history. This marks the third international expansion for the US-based PFL, adding to its existing ventures in Europe and the Middle East/North Africa.

The effort is being spearheaded by former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who serves as chairman, while Helios Sports & Entertainment Group, an NBA Africa investor, joins the project as a key capital partner. The UFC CEO, during a recent conversation with Aaron Bronsteter, shared his honest opinion of what he exactly feels about PFL’s entry into the world’s second biggest continent. 

Bronsteter took to his X account to share the video with the fans. While speaking to the host, White shared his future plans and said, “Yeah, we are building a PI in the middle East and a lot of people from Africa will come and train in that PI. You have to get in there and cultivate talents by yourself. Like we have done in China, like we have done in Mexico. We have done a PI in Las Vegas.”

The UFC head honcho added, “Yeah, there’s a lot of differences. I could talk about this for the next 20 minutes. But yeah, what we do is we reinvest into sport and we continue to grow in all these different markets. We haven’t done an event in Spain yet. Wait till we do an event in Spain.” 

Dana White previously pointed out that the shortage of suitable indoor arenas is the main hurdle to bringing a UFC event to Africa. He’s hesitant to stage a show outdoors due to unpredictable challenges, ranging from weather issues to dealing with pests like mosquitoes, that could disrupt the event.

Moreover, holding an event outdoors could seriously impact fighter performance inside the Octagon. Still, there’s reason for optimism when it comes to the UFC’s future in Africa. While White may not be ready to bring a full-scale event to the continent just yet, he’s made it clear that he’s committed to nurturing African talent. 

Dana White always had plans of opening a Performance Institute in Africa

The UFC made history in May 2017 with the launch of its first-ever Performance Institute—a cutting-edge facility in Las Vegas that quickly established itself as a global center for innovation, research, and high-performance MMA training. Since opening its doors, the institute has welcomed over 400 athletes from around the world, setting a new standard in fighter development.

Fueled by the success of the original location, Dana White went on to expand the concept to Shanghai and Mexico. And from the looks of it, the UFC president has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

During one of the DWCS press conferences, the UFC head honcho shared his plans for Africa. He said, “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.

The UFC CEO further added, “Wait, wait until five, six, seven years. Mexico, [the] same thing’s going to happen [in Africa]. And who knows? With Africa, it could be even crazier.” Although Africa may not be hosting a UFC event in the near future, the continent has already produced some of the most prominent stars in the world of mixed martial arts. 

But the big question is, will the promotion ever find its way in Africa to host an event? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.