Betway Partners with UFC Champion Dricus du Plessis

28.01.2025

Betway has announced a new brand ambassador partnership with UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis, marking a significant move to enhance its footprint in South Africa.

A South African UFC Champion

Dricus du Plessis made history as the first South African fighter to become a UFC world champion, securing the title by defeating American Sean Strickland. Since then, he has defended his belt against former two-time champion Israel Adesanya, achieving an impressive record of 22 wins and two losses, with a current 10-fight win streak.

The partnership with Betway aligns the brand with a homegrown talent whose success resonates with South African sports fans.

“Betway having chosen to invest in me and my sport is a tremendous honour. Knowing that this collaboration creates opportunities for aspiring MMA-athletes and South African sports talents, provides me with a great sense of pride and motivation to maintain our country’s championship status – you can bet on that!”, said Dricus Du Plessis.

Enhancing Betway’s Presence in South Africa

Betway plans to leverage Du Plessis’s champion image to bolster its visibility in the South African market, particularly ahead of the fighter’s title defense scheduled for 8 February. South Africa remains a key market for Betway outside of Europe, and the company has a strong history of partnerships in the region.

The brand has previously secured sponsorship deals in sports like football and cricket, including major properties like the Betway SA20 cricket league, the Betway Premiership, and its association with the Springboks, South Africa’s national rugby team.

“At Betway, we pride ourselves on aligning our globally recognized brand with exceptional sporting properties such as the Betway SA20, Betway Premiership, and the Springboks, as well as working with inspirational sports stars and we are immensely proud to have Dricus join us. He’s a great ambassador for South Africa and African MMA. He has established himself as one of the top MMA athletes in the world, his International Fighter of the Year award is testament to the incredible year he has had in the UFC, and we wish him well for his title defence at UFC 312. We’re all behind the champ”, highlighted Mark Rowles, Betway Africa’s Head of Marketing.

Photo: Canadian Press/Shutterstock