Cape Town’s very own mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters will be showcasing the true meaning of blood, sweat and tears as they participate in the freshly announced Knox Legacy Series 2026, which will take place in February.

MMA fighters will have the chance to show off what they are made of on 26 February 2026 at the GrandWest Grand Arena, in what is expected to be the first in a series of fights and kick off the EFC calendar for 2026.

Fighters who will be representing Cape Town in the fights include “Troublemaker” Faeez Jacobs (Current 3x EFC Bantamweight Champion), Luke Michael (Men’s Middleweight Champion), Terrence Balo, Tumelo “Mellow” Manyamala and Adriaan Sanchez, who will be facing off against the global force of yet-to-be-announced fighters.

Knox Hydrate founders Ethan Hughes and Dricus du Plessis were joined by EFC president Cairo Howarth and Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis for the announcement of the MMA series.

“This isn’t just another night of fights; it is a celebration of the legacy of the sport that has created opportunities for so many South Africans, and again confirmed the reality that sports are an exceptional platform to unite behind from around the world.

“For the first time, we’re bringing together the world of elite combat sports, lifestyle and the mindset of mixed martial arts athletes, and the beauty of South African culture together. Fervently showcasing the Mother City of our country, Cape Town, as one of the iconic cities in the world.”

Hughes thanked both EFC and the City for coming on board to support the event, which Hill-Lewis said has been a long time in the making.

“This has been a passion and vision of his, Dricus, for a couple of years now. It has been so awesome to see how determined you have been to see this happen in South Africa. We are very honoured and privileged that, in the end, it is going to be hosted in Cape Town.

“Cape Town is super excited to host this event, along with Knox, Dricus and the EFC. There is a huge fanbase in Cape Town, we know there is going to be big support for this event in the City, and we know it will be broadcast nationally and internationally.”

Hill-Lewis said that the level of the platform will help in their mission of growing the event, and showcase that Cape Town can host a title bout in the future.

“We will pull out all the stops to ensure that it is an unforgettable event.”

Du Plessis, the former UFC Middleweight champion, said that the event will not only be about the fights or the fighters, but it is also about ensuring more people can have the opportunities to sustain themselves in the sport.

“I know how hard it is to make it happen when you are starting with this sport. I know funds are hard, finding a good gym, and having to travel. That is the biggest hurdle that every fighter has, and I think in South Africa, and Africa as a whole, we’ve shown with the little that we have… that we have still managed to do great.

“I wanted to give back to this sport that has given me everything. As cliché as that sounds, it is 100% a fact,” he said.

“This is not me doing this, it is me alongside the EFC, who has invested in this sport since I was 14 or 15 years old. They started MMA on the African continent, and they took that to the next level.

“This is our event,” Du Plessis said. “What we want to do is show the world, and show these massive organisations that we can host a world-class event.”

Howarth said that he knows fans will raise the roof at the event and added that the fight card will be released soon, with more announcements anticipated in the coming weeks.

“This is the first one that we will be launching. The intention is for this to be the first. We’d love to be doing this multiple times in the City of Cape Town. This one starts in February 2026, and the goal is…making this the biggest and best show that Africa has ever seen.”

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za

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