Chad Hanekom excited to show what South Africa brings to UFC on DWCS

With South African MMA booming, Chad Hanekom is trying to stake his declare on Dana White’s Contender Collection.

Hanekom (9-2) will struggle for a UFC contract when he meets Cam Rowston (8-2) on Sept. 5 on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The previous BRAVE CF title challenger is coming off a highlight-reel knockout that was featured on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and is trying to additional put South African MMA on the map.

“There are some killers which can be developing by way of the ranks, and I intend on being a type of,” Hanekom informed MMA Junkie. “I’ve a well-rounded, strong general model. I imagine that with the proper expertise within the UFC and a few strong outings that enable me to turn out to be snug with the surroundings, that I’ll be capable of convey a brand new attention-grabbing taste that followers and employees will get pleasure from seeing.

“I’ve a extremely cool product and story to promote, and in the end, I imagine the UFC is the right platform to do that. The UFC and world are interested by South Africa. It’s our time to point out them what now we have to convey to the market.”

Dricus Du Plessis and his teammate Cameron Saaiman at the moment are main the South African MMA cost within the UFC. As a fighter who was born and raised in South Africa, Hanekom admits it hasn’t all the time been simple to hit the massive stage.

“To be sincere, the UFC was not likely one thing that was on my fast radar,” Hanekom mentioned. “I had different targets that I used to be trying to accomplish inside my martial arts profession. The UFC has all the time been a far attain for any South African or Africa-based fighter purely based mostly on our geographic challenges that we’re confronted inside getting there.

“It’s been troublesome to even think about that as a aim or ambition. Nonetheless, now that the chance has arisen as soon as once more, I’m extraordinarily grateful for it. In any case, the UFC is the gold normal of the game. It’s the Olympics of combating. It’s one thing reserved for the elite proportion of fighters on the market.”

Hanekom will likely be taking over Metropolis Kickboxing’s Rowston, who’s unbeaten in his previous 5 fights – and “Superman” likes the matchup.

“I believe that it’s an excellent matchup,” Hanekom mentioned. “I believe stylistically, he will likely be an attention-grabbing puzzle for me to resolve. I don’t focus an excessive amount of on my opponent, although. I’ve huge respect for his coach Eugene (Bareman) and his staff. I’ll impose myself on him, and I don’t suppose that he’s confronted the form of adversity in there that I’ll convey. I believe he’s an excellent athlete and fighter, however I believe that it’s a nasty time for him to be operating into me.”