February 26 All day
DDP BRINGS KNOX LEGACY SERIES TO CAPE TOWN – A GLOBAL MMA SHOWCASE ARRIVES FEB 2026
A new era of professional mixed martial arts is set to hit the Mother City. The City of Cape Town, KNOX Hydrate and the EFC have officially announced the launch of the KNOX Legacy Series, a major new MMA event that will take place at GrandWest Arena on Thursday, 26 February 2026. The announcement was made during a special press conference in Cape Town’s Sea Point, setting the stage for one of the most significant MMA milestones in South African history.
A World-Class Spectacle for Cape Town
The KNOX Legacy Series will see some of Cape Town’s top MMA athletes take on elite competitors from around the globe, transforming the city into an international combat sports destination. A short promotional clip released at the conference teased the scale of the event, with UFC superstar and KNOX co-founder Dricus du Plessis confirmed to be involved in bringing the vision to life.
City of Cape Town Shows Its Support
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis praised the dedication behind the project, expressing the city’s enthusiasm for hosting world-class sporting events. He highlighted Dricus du Plessis’ determination in ensuring Cape Town would host a premier MMA event, even when bringing a UFC-sanctioned card proved too costly.
The Mayor also shared confidence that the success of the KNOX Legacy Series will further strengthen Cape Town’s case to one day host a title bout featuring du Plessis on home soil.
Dricus du Plessis Shares His Vision
South Africa’s first UFC champion spoke passionately about what the event represents. For him, the KNOX Legacy Series is not just a fight night—it is a way to give back to the sport that shaped his career.
He reflected on starting out with limited opportunities compared to athletes in other countries and praised the EFC for providing a platform that helped develop African MMA talent. Du Plessis hopes this event will inspire a new generation and help MMA gain greater national recognition as a legitimate professional sport.
KNOX Aims to Elevate South African Sport
KNOX co-founder Ethan Hughes spoke on the company’s commitment to helping South African athletes gain global exposure. He described the KNOX Legacy Series as a celebration of the sport’s growth and the athletes who have carried it forward.
What began as a mission to create healthier lifestyle products has evolved into a project helping elevate MMA onto the global stage.
A Major Moment for EFC
EFC President Cairo Howarth confirmed that the KNOX Legacy Series will officially open EFC’s 2026 calendar, with massive international broadcast plans already in motion. He noted that the event is expected to reach hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.
Local Stars Announced
Five Cape Town athletes were unveiled during the press conference and will compete on the card:
Their international opponents will be announced soon.
A New Milestone for African MMA
With global talent, world-class production, and Cape Town’s proven event-hosting capability, the KNOX Legacy Series is positioned to be one of the most significant MMA events in recent South African history. It represents not only competition at the highest level but also the growth and recognition of MMA as a sport across the continent.
Further matchups, broadcast information, and promotional details will be released in the coming months.