UFC is the most popular MMA promotion in many parts of the world. However, it is not the same in Africa. Although Africa has produced some of the greatest MMA fighters who fight in the UFC, those fighters are not really famous in Africa. The interesting thing is that there are many Africans who have dominated the UFC. In this article, we will tell you about the 10 best African UFC fighters in the history of the sport.
10) Manel Kape
Manel Kape is an Angolan-born professional MMA fighter who joined the UFC in 2021. Before entering the biggest MMA promotion, “StarBoy” fought in various promotions like Cage Fighters and Rizin. He has a unique fighting style and currently ranks 6th in the UFC flyweight rankings. Kape has already amassed a professional MMA record of 19 wins and 6 losses. Manel has scored 11 of his 19 wins by knockout, which shows he is a good finisher. He is a former RIZIN Bantamweight champion and a former Knock Out Championship Bantamweight champion as well.
9) Abdul Razak Alhassan
Abdul Razak Alhassan is a Ghanaian MMA fighter who began his professional MMA career in 2013. During his initial career, Alhassan fought in MMA promotions like Bellator and Legacy Fighting Championship. He entered the UFC in 2016 and since then has scored wins against fighters like Sabah Homasi, Niko Price and Alessio Di Chirico. “Judo Thunder” is known for his striking abilities and has amassed a 12-6 record till now. He currently competes in the welterweight division of the UFC.
8) Mounir Lazzez
Tunisian MMA fighter Mounir Lazzez is one of the promising African fighters who entered the UFC in 2020. Before joining the most popular MMA promotion, “The Sniper” fought in promotions like Dubai FC, Desert Force, Brave CF and UAE Warriors. Lazzez has fought in 14 matches so far and won 11 of them. Mounir is a knockout specialist and it looks like he will be more dominant in the future.
7) Dalcha Lungiambula
Lungiambula is a Congolese mixed martial artist and a kickboxer who began his professional MMA career in 2014. He fought in the Extreme Fighting Championship for a few years and won the interim EFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Dalcha entered the UFC in 2019 but was not that successful and was soon released from the promotion after his fourth consecutive defeat at UFC 282.
6) Abu Azaitar
Abu Azaitar is the elder of two Moroccan brothers who fight in the UFC. He joined the promotion in 2018 and during his UFC career, “Bulldozer” suffered only four defeats and won 14 matches. He is one of the most promising African fighters in the UFC, despite not winning a title yet. He is a skilled striker and has scored 7 out of his 14 wins by knockout.
5) Sodiq Yusuff
Sodiq Yusuff is a Nigerian-American MMA fighter who began his professional career in 2016 and has been performing great since then. After fighting in promotions like VFC, Titan FC and Brave, Yusuff finally joined the UFC in 2018. So far, “Super” has fought in 16 professional matches and won 13 of them. Currently, he ranks 12th in the UFC featherweight rankings. His most stunning win came against Don Shainis at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan, where he made his opponent submit to a guillotine choke within the 30 seconds of the first round.
4) Dricus Du Plessis
Dricus Du Plessis is one of the most amazing African MMA fighters who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the UFC. He currently ranks #8 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings. “Stillknocks” recently defeated Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and won the Middleweight championship. Du Plessis has wins over fighters like Trevin Giles, Derek Brunson and Robert Whittaker. So far, he has only suffered two losses in his professional MMA career.
3) Israel Adesanya
Adesanya is not only one of the best but also one of the most popular Nigerian MMA fighters in the UFC. He entered the promotion in 2018 and has been incredible since then. “The Last Stylebender” is a former two-time UFC Middleweight champion. When Adesanya first won the Middleweight title, he successfully defended it five times. So far, he has amassed a 24-3 professional MMA record. Adesanya is a knockout specialist, as he has scored 16 of his wins via knockout.
2) Francis Ngannou
Francis Ngannou is a Cameroonian MMA fighter who joined the UFC in 2015 and was incredible whenever he entered the octagon. “The Predator” got his first title shot in 2018 for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. However, he lost the fight to Stipe Miocic at UFC 220. In 2021, Ngannou again got the opportunity to win the Heavyweight championship. Again, his opponent was Miocic at UFC 260. Ngannou won the fight by knockout and captured the title; however, he was stripped of the title after his contract expired. He has amassed a 17-3 professional record and 12 of his wins came via knockout.
1) Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman is one of the best Nigerian MMA fighters in the UFC. He joined the promotion in 2015 and was undefeated until 2021. “The Nigerian Nightmare” holds the record for the second-highest winning streak with 15 wins. He has notable wins over fighters like Sean Strickland, Rafael Dos Anjos, Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal. Usman is a former UFC welterweight champion. During his title reign, Usman defended his title successfully five times. He currently ranks 15 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Also Read: 10 Best Mexican MMA Fighters In The History Of UFC
