African Heavyweight Champ Signed to UFC
Feb 11, 2014 Comments
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Johannesburg (South Africa) – EFC AFRICA, the
continent’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation, has
clinched a deal for heavyweight champion Ruan ‘Fangzz’ Potts to
fight at US based international promotion, the Ultimate Fighting
Championship (UFC).
“This is a great opportunity and we look forward to seeing Ruan competing with some of the best athletes from around the world,” said EFC AFRICA president Cairo Howarth. “We’ve been in talks with the UFC for quite some time and are happy to have come to this agreement with them.”
Potts’ contract is a six fight deal, with his first UFC bout
expected to be in April, and will see him representing Africa
against heavyweights from across the globe.
“We’ve pioneered and grown African MMA to a point where our athletes are now truly world class,” said Howarth. “This agreement is testament to that. Now is Ruan’s time to represent Africa in the world’s biggest MMA promotion.”
“There is amazing talent here at EFC AFRICA, and I have improved so much as an athlete over these past three years with the promotion,” said heavyweight champion Ruan Potts. “Now I’m looking forward to putting my skills up against other world-class UFC opponents from other continents.”
Potts will relinquish his EFC AFRICA heavyweight title, which will become vacant, ready for a worthy champion to claim it. With top EFC AFRICA contenders like Vandam Mbuyi, Christophe Walravens and former champion Andrew van Zyl, fans can expect a tough battle for the belt very soon.
EFC AFRICA 27, presented by BetXchange, takes place on Thursday 27 February 2014 at the Big Top Arena, Carnival City, Johannesburg. Tickets on sale now at computicket.com. Stream the entire event, live and in HD, from efcafrica.tv.
Broadcast information and full fight card available at efcafrica.com
About EFC AFRICA® – The Extreme Fighting Championship® Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, EFC AFRICA is the African continent’s biggest, as well as a world leading, mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation. The Extreme Fighting Championship produces 10 live events annually and has sold out some of the biggest arenas in Africa. With over 120 athletes exclusively contracted to the organisation from countries such as Angola, the DRC, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and both sides of the Sahara desert, EFC AFRICA showcases the greatest warriors on the continent. EFC AFRICA events are broadcast live in over 110 countries around the world on nine television networks in multiple languages. EFC AFRICA programming is available weekly in 600+ million TV households worldwide, making it one of the most recognisable MMA brands on the planet. Leading retailers stock a full catalogue of best-selling EFC AFRICA DVD’s, branded merchandise and clothing and equipment ranges. For more information visit efcafrica.com, or follow us at facebook.com/efcafrica and Twitter: twitter.com/EFCAFRICA. For TV broadcasters in your country visit: efc_africa_tv_schedule.php
“This is a great opportunity and we look forward to seeing Ruan competing with some of the best athletes from around the world,” said EFC AFRICA president Cairo Howarth. “We’ve been in talks with the UFC for quite some time and are happy to have come to this agreement with them.”
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“We’ve pioneered and grown African MMA to a point where our athletes are now truly world class,” said Howarth. “This agreement is testament to that. Now is Ruan’s time to represent Africa in the world’s biggest MMA promotion.”
The Extreme Fighting Championship is broadcast to over 400 million
homes in over 110 countries around the world, showcasing Africa’s
finest talent and some of the world’s best MMA athletes. Since
exploding onto the scene in February 2011 at the EFC AFRICA 07
event, Potts has dominated the heavyweight division and, boosted by
EFC AFRICA’s global television reach, has earned himself an
international reputation as one of the most talented fighters on
the planet.
“There is amazing talent here at EFC AFRICA, and I have improved so much as an athlete over these past three years with the promotion,” said heavyweight champion Ruan Potts. “Now I’m looking forward to putting my skills up against other world-class UFC opponents from other continents.”
Potts will relinquish his EFC AFRICA heavyweight title, which will become vacant, ready for a worthy champion to claim it. With top EFC AFRICA contenders like Vandam Mbuyi, Christophe Walravens and former champion Andrew van Zyl, fans can expect a tough battle for the belt very soon.
EFC AFRICA 27, presented by BetXchange, takes place on Thursday 27 February 2014 at the Big Top Arena, Carnival City, Johannesburg. Tickets on sale now at computicket.com. Stream the entire event, live and in HD, from efcafrica.tv.
Broadcast information and full fight card available at efcafrica.com
About EFC AFRICA® – The Extreme Fighting Championship® Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, EFC AFRICA is the African continent’s biggest, as well as a world leading, mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation. The Extreme Fighting Championship produces 10 live events annually and has sold out some of the biggest arenas in Africa. With over 120 athletes exclusively contracted to the organisation from countries such as Angola, the DRC, Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and both sides of the Sahara desert, EFC AFRICA showcases the greatest warriors on the continent. EFC AFRICA events are broadcast live in over 110 countries around the world on nine television networks in multiple languages. EFC AFRICA programming is available weekly in 600+ million TV households worldwide, making it one of the most recognisable MMA brands on the planet. Leading retailers stock a full catalogue of best-selling EFC AFRICA DVD’s, branded merchandise and clothing and equipment ranges. For more information visit efcafrica.com, or follow us at facebook.com/efcafrica and Twitter: twitter.com/EFCAFRICA. For TV broadcasters in your country visit: efc_africa_tv_schedule.php
