By Liam Kenny

THE UFC currently boasts two African champions in Kamaru Usman at welterweight and Israel Adesanya at Middleweight, with many more contenders coming through the ranks.

Dan Hardy, who fought George St Pierre, for the welterweight title, boasts an admirable record of 25-10 and has seen the very top of the sport.

He says he is thrilled with the rise of the UFC and the new champions we are seeing. Hardy enthused: “The African champs are amazing, that’s the growth of the sport worldwide, we’ve also got the first Chinese champion now too in Zhang Weili, it’s only a matter of time before we have champions from every corner of the world, and right now, its Africa’s moment, Kamaru Usman, Francis Ngannou and obviously Isreal Adensanya looking absolutely incredible, with these inspiring guys leading the way for them now, we are going to get an avalanche of fighters coming from Africa in years to come, great athletes, great gyms being set up in that region, and these guys, its just so exciting to see mixed martial arts grow.”

There are currently three black champions in the UFC and a month ago there was four, before Daniel Cormier lost his heavyweight belt to Stipe Miocic.

Hardy said that he believes Stipe’s biggest threat might come from elsewhere. “You know I think Stipe might have Cormier’s number now, I think Cormier’s motivation for a rematch with Stipe wouldn’t be quite as much as it would be for someone else, say if he was fighting Brock Lesnar, we might see a different version of Daniel. 

“I think the biggest problem for Stipe honestly is Jon Jones, (Current Light Heavyweight Champion).  I think there are other contenders in the heavyweight division that could trouble him, there is a big show coming up in Moscow with Volkan Oezdemir and Junior Dos Santos. So, the winner of that could be in the mix, and don’t forget about Francis Ngannou, who’s got that huge punch he can land on anybody.

“To be honest, the rematch would make sense with DC and Miocic, but I believe the biggest problem for Stipe will be Jon Jones.”