Graeme Cartmell, Vice President of Talent and Matchmaker at Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) believes that it is only a matter of time before South Africa gets to host a Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event.
“We have done a lot of bids, we have spoken to the UFC. The sports minister has gotten involved, we’ve met with the mayor of Cape Town and he is behind it and I think as it is the metric in this sport it will come down to money,” Cartmell said in an exclusive interview with News62.
“If Cape Town city says we will put the money behind it, the UFC will be here and that’s the reality.
No room for politics at this party
Cartmell stated that hosting a night of this magnitude can by no means be seen as a political move.
“I know that Minister Gayton McKenzie got involved and that there was political posturing, but ultimately the discussion is about money.”
Cartmell highlighted that an UFC event in South Africa would serve as a springboard for this county to greater wealth in the sport.
“We are a fighting nation. Africa is a fighting continent so it has to be here. We have to have a UFC event here and Dana (White) is looking to exit at some stage in his career and he has said that he wants the UFC here before he passes on that baton.
“We have an African champion, we have Dricus in the mix and it has to happen.”
As a man who has dedicated over 15 years to elevating African mixed martial arts on the global stage, he vowed that he would leave no stone unturned to ensure the grandest of stages is held in South Africa.
EFC boss blown away by Barrydale Fight Club
While enjoying a weekend of leisure in the Klein Karoo with friends, Cartmell just had to stop-in and the all-new premises of Barrydale Fight Club.
We can find the next Dricus du Plessis here, we can find the next Cameron Saaiman here and it’s all about fashioning their careers and all of this starts at club like this.
Graeme Cartmell
This was mainly because Bronze Grove owner Chaz Williams, a more than competent fighter back in the day, had insisted that he sees what is happening in this village.
During this site visit at Barrydale Fight Club with coach Conroy Williams, the fight promoter was pleasantly surprised with what he saw.
“I didn’t expect to see anything like this. I’ve never been to Barrydale and most of the stuff I do is in big cities, so to come out and see that someone is putting so much effort it local mixed martial arts and the fight community is incredible,” said Cartmell.
For the past five years Conroy used his own garage as a gym and despite a lack of resources and equipment, he still managed to produce several provincial kickingboxing champions and an African champion in Zyno Syster.
Thanks to a few Fight Nights, and other fundraising event,s a good some of money was raised for the new gym. Later Conroy also received assistance of Johan van den Berg of VM&K and today his dream to have the perfect facility for youth development is a reality.
Cartmell simply loved what he saw
“This is where it starts. I think to marry this type of setup with somebody who is passionate and then you hopefully get the positivity from the community – the kids will start realising that they can actually become something some day,” he said.
“That’s where it starts to have synergy.”
“Talking to Conroy and realising that there are athletes that are starting to come through this club and actually doing the work, and they actually have the potential to become fighters at a higher level, thats what I care about.”
“The fact that somebody has come out here and put their own time and money, without expecting anything in return, is astonishing.
“We can find the next Dricus du Plessis here, we can find the next Cameron Saaiman here and it’s all about fashioning their careers and all of this starts at club like this.”
Picture Gallery by Graham Abbott
