UFC contract comes with honour and pressure – Saaiman

The South African mixed martial arts (MMA) fraternity got a shot in the arm recently when one of their own, Cameron Saaiman, secured his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contract in Las Vegas.

Saaiman knocked out USA™s Josh Wang-Kim in the third round at their Dana White Contenders Series 6 bantamweight fight.

At just 21, the former Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) bantamweight title holder is the youngest male athlete on the UFC books and he says this is a big deal.

œIt™s a massive honour for me to be able to not only represent my team CIT in Pretoria, but to also to represent my country-we fighting now for the number-1 even a promotion in the world and it™s great to show the world what's talent is growing in South Africa as well.

œWe have an amazing team that puts in a lot of work and I™m just glad I can go show off that hard work to the world and hopefully more follow suits, hopefully it inspires younger athlete as well to start believing that you can make it in south Africa if you just work hard enough, so yah it™s a massive honour said Saaiman.

There are at least two of his countryman that are flying the flag around the world - UFC middleweight fighter as well as training partner Dricus du Plessis and JP Buys, who scored a contract two years ago. Joining that list puts Saaiman on the spotlight.

œIt obviously comes with some pressure but I think the first type of- I™m super proud to be one of the front runners like my teammates Dricus du Plessis is also making amazing waves in the international stage. We have a handful of South Africans that are fighting overseas and grooving in multiple organizations that we deserve more opportunities like this.

œSo being one of those guys that are putting up their hands welcoming the pressure welcoming the type of everything that goes with the sports it makes me super proud and at the end of the day it™s also part of my job to do that, so I take it very seriously. Overall I™m super proud and I love this sport of MMA and I™m not gonna stop, he added.

By: Mazola Molefe