Francis Ngannou went through the worst to make his return to the cage, “Reug Reug” surprise champion, Dricus du Plessis continues to make Africa shine in the UFC… 2024 was a great year for African MMA, which can already rub his hands about a future that promises to be bright, between rising stars and the development of sport on the continent.
5 mins
Francis Ngannou emerges as the big winner of African MMA of the year 2024. However, he lost a lot. Sportingly, first, in a boxing fight where he suffered a terrible knockout against Anthony Joshua in January. Then an immeasurably greater pain, the loss of his son, barely a year old, came to mourn him in April. And yet, from this immense loss, the Cameroonian decided to make a force to fight again in MMA, against Renan Ferreira, whom he crushed in the first round to win the PFL heavyweight champion belt.
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A fight in the PFL league, which he joined, being motivated by ” what was envisaged for the PFL Africa and the interest they (the organizers) placed in it “. Indeed, Ngannou has notably agreed to join the rising organization with the perspective of leading the latter’s Africa branch, which should see the light of day in the second quarter of 2025, with the development of a championship specific to the continent. A program that could benefit a certain type of profile: Senegalese wrestlers who are increasingly turning to MMA, even though the sport is still poorly structured in Africa. Even if they can draw inspiration from the journey of “ Reug Reug”, another great star of African MMA this year, who won the ONE Championship heavyweight championship belt, thanks to a surprise victory against the undefeated Anatoly Malykhin. The Ivorian also called on Francis Ngannou to face him for a 100% African duel, which however has little chance of seeing the light of day and the outcome of which would be in little doubt.
Du Plessis and Adesanya, one king died, another was born
The two men heated up through the media and even challenged each other with looks in the cage. 2024 was the scene of their confrontation long awaited. Israel Adesanya, who had already lost his championship belt, tried to snatch it again from the waist of South African Dricus du Plessis last August. In vain, since the Nigerian was submitted in the fourth round.
A highly anticipated fight in Africa because the two men provoked each other for many months, against a backdrop of legitimacy in claiming to be “true Africans”. Adesanya having promised Duplessis to “ drag his carcass across South Africa » after accusing him of being a “ product of colonization “. The fact remains that the duel turned to the advantage of the South African, enough to consolidate his status as champion acquired in January after a victory over Sean Strickland, making him the only African champion in the UFC.
Comet Cédric Doumbè and some African stars
Difficult to summarize Cédric Doumbè’s year. If the Franco-Cameroonian only fought twice, for a defeat against “Baki” and a victory against Jaleel Willishe appears to have raked in a decade of media exposure in 365 days. The former kick boxer has focused all the attention of MMA in France on him in succession, even though he does not represent the elite of this sport and does not even play in the UFC. Each of his releases filled the Bercy hall in Paris, which is not given to everyone. His defeat due to a thorn in his side against “Baki” at the start of the year scratched his hype, but not enough to prevent the French public from taking his place to return to see him a few months later.
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In the wake of the Doumbè UFO, other Africans have established themselves in world MMA, more sportingly than in the media this time. Like Themba Gorimbo, the Zimbabwean with an absolutely extraordinary story, who had three victories in the UFC in 2024 before being stopped by Vicente Luque in December. Witness to his determination to see things through to the end, he preferred to lose consciousness in Luque’s submission rather than tell the referee that he was giving up the fight. For his part, David Onama, who until then was also surviving in the UFC, scored two decision victories this year, after already a year in 2023 without knowing defeat, enough to boost his career .
Some careers have taken a hit
Obviously, everything has not been all rosy for the continent. A few names had a very difficult 2024 financial year. Starting with Mohammed Usman, who had a great debut in the UFC and who suffered two defeats in as many fights this year. Just like Sodiq Yusufwho had only fought once in 2023, for a defeat, and who repeated in 2024. Enough to seriously slow down his future in the American organization.
On the other hand, the prospects for 2025 are encouraging. The PFL would prepare a revenge between Doumbè and “Baki” for the second quarter of 2025, enough to put a piece back into the media machine. Also, Israel Adesanya already has a date on which he will set foot again to get back into the race for the belt, next February 1 against the Frenchman Nassourdine Imavov. The following week, on February 8, du Plessis will defend his title in a rematch against Sean Strickland.