KING HEADS TO PROMISED LAND
MIXED martial arts fans will have to put their hopes of a “Dricus v Dalcha” fight on ice for a while. But that by no means should spell disappointment as the man known as “Champion” will be entering the UFC octagon soon.
In an exclusive interview with Independent Media, Dalcha Lungiambula, more affectionately known as Champion Dalcha, confirmed, along with his Grind Sports Agency, that he will be moving to the land of MMA milk and honey as he sets out to make a name for himself in the light-heavyweight division of the top MMA promotion in the world.
“I am leaving to join the top league in the world which every fighter dreams of,” he said.
The double division Extreme Fighting Championship king will be relinquishing his heavyweight and light-heavyweight titles as he enters the octagon, where he will be keen on mixing it up with the likes of UFC superstars Jon Jones, Alex Gustafsson and Anthony Smith.
He could be stepping into the famed octagon as soon as March, although nothing is cast in stone yet.
Late last year, he called out fellow EFC double champion Dricus du Plessis (middleweight and welterweight king) in a quest to confirm a super fight and get the MMA talking. However, things have changed now.
“We are not thinking about Dricus anymore, we have a new vision. That fight would be great for the fans, though,” he says.
“It has always been a dream to reach the UFC for me and my team. When my Grind Sports team took over in 2015, we set a goal for UFC within three years. The level of competition is what I need to push myself to be better, and I believe in myself, and I am not afraid of hard work,” says the man who secured his double champ status after overcoming MMA African legend Andrew van Zyl for the EFC Heavyweight title.
“It is a sad time for me also, because I have so many local African fans who would watch me live at the EFC events, and now that will be difficult for most of them to travel with me.
“But I am the king and my rise can motivate others to rise up and follow me to achieve their dreams. I want to give African MMA more exposure and show the level of fighters that are coming through out of the EFC and Africa,” he added.