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Dana White recently confirmed Dricus du Plessis' next opponent while also shedding light on the numerous challenges involved in hosting the fight in South Africa. The UFC CEO has been adamant about bringing the promotion to du Plessis' home country.
During the press conference for the latest episode of 'Dana White's Contender Series' on Tuesday, White said that 'Stillknocks' will defend his title next in a rematch against Sean Strickland. However, he also noted that there are significant challenges the organization must overcome before arranging for the potential fight to take place on African soil:
"You know how bad I want this. I’ve been trying to get this thing done. The arena situation there is tough. It’s tough to pull off. So, that’s been the challenge with Africa as a whole. We’re trying to figure it out. The place that we would have to do it at is outdoors, and you know how I feel about that."
White further emphasized that he aims to prevent any disruptions during the fight that could affect its result:
"I’ve been hearing that wind is a big problem. We’ve done it a couple of times, but anything that can affect the outcome of the fight makes me not even want to try. So, you know, it’s anything from wind, rain, and bugs to too much humidity. A lot of things can interfere with the fight."
Check out Dana White's comments below:
Check out the full press conference below:
White had assured the reigning UFC middleweight champion that if he successfully defended his title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August, his next fight would take place in the African continent. Du Plessis fulfilled his end of the deal by securing a fourth-round submission victory.
When Dana White dismissed the possibility of UFC event in a stadium
During the pre-fight press conference for UFC 304 in July, Dana White was questioned about the possibility of hosting an event in an open-roof stadium, similar to Anfield or Wembley.
White didn't completely dismiss the notion of a stadium event but expressed his reluctance due to his preference for the intimate atmosphere found in closed arenas:
"Listen, I've said many times that I'm not a big fan of stadium fights. We've done them. I like the intimate feeling of an arena. I like arenas. I think it's a better experience for the fans. I'm not saying I wouldn't do it [stadium event at Anfield], but I'm an arena guy."
Check out Dana White's comments below (16:17):
