South African MMA by Province

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The sport of Mixed Martial Arts is growing rapidly across South Africa, this is unquestionable, but where within our country’s borders is the most growth happening? This question is hard to answer. Firstly we need to define growth. Is it the overall number of people participating the sport? Is it the number of MMA events being held? Or is it the quality of the MMA fighters being produced?

In line with volumes of practitioners and events, Gauteng by sheer virtue of the population size must be the front runner. For the purpose of this article however, I have looked at the top professionals as a synechdoche for the province, and in doing so I hope to determine where the most talented MMA fighters are being produced. This will give us a closer idea as to where the South African MMA talent is best being nurtured.

Building further on this rather outrageous theory, I have used my recently released South African MMA Rankings to acquire a sample size of 30 of the top South African fighters, the top 5 from each division. In the case where fighters have relocated within the last year, their former provinces apply.

Here are my findings:

Eastern Cape MMA fighters overall stats:

EFC Champions in Eastern Cape	0
Percentage of Champions in Eastern Cape	0%
Top fighters in Eastern Cape	2
Percentage of Top fighters in Eastern Cape	7%
Eastern Cape fighter’s stats	46-9
Eastern Cape fighter’s win percentage	84%

Gauteng MMA fighters overall stats:

EFC Champions in Gauteng	3 - Demarte Pena, Costa Ioannou, Jeremy Smith
Percentage of Champions in Gauteng	60%
Top fighters in Gauteng	19
Percentage of Top fighters in Gauteng	63%
Gauteng fighter’s stats	148-48
Gauteng fighter’s win percentage	76%

Kwazulu-Natal MMA fighters overall stats:

EFC Champions in Kwazulu-Natal	1 – Dallas Jakobi
Percentage of Champions in Kwazulu-Natal	20%
Top fighters in Kwazulu-Natal	5
Percentage of Top fighters in Kwazulu-Natal	17%
Kwazulu-Natal fighter’s stats	54-16
Kwazulu-Natal fighter’s win percentage	77%

Western Cape MMA fighters overall stats:

EFC Champions in Western Cape	1 – Ruan Potts
Percentage of Champions in Western Cape	20%
Top fighters in Western Cape	3
Percentage of Top fighters in Western Cape	10%
Western Cape fighter’s stats	34-5
Western Cape fighter’s win percentage	87%

Provincial Analysis

Gauteng certainly seems to be producing the most top fighters. This was not altogether a surprise due to the fact that Gauteng has the biggest fighter base to work from. Kwazulu-Natal, which has had a very active MMA community for some years now is the province producing the second most top fighters. Western Cape claims the third spot, but interestingly all the fighters representing the province were heavyweights. The Eastern Cape is the last province represented, incidentally only by lightweight fighters. No other South African provinces were represented in the top 30 fighters.

For those wondering why the numbers don’t add up, light heavyweight fighter Paul van Vuuren was not assigned a province as he left South Africa in 2010.

MMA growth by province

1. Gauteng
2. Kwazulu-Natal
3. Western Cape
4. Eastern Cape

Posted in: Costa Ioannou, Dallas Jakobi, Demarte Pena, Jeremy Smith, MMA Articles, MMA South Africa, Ruan Potts