From Hartbeespoort Dam to UFC glory. Dricus du Plessis is the trailblazing South African who became the first UFC middleweight champion from the African continent.
In an exclusive interview with Larry Madowo of CNN’s African Voices Changemakers, Du Plessis shares his journey from a small-town kickboxer to international MMA sensation, discussing his historic victory, the rise of MMA in Africa, and his plans to defend his title.
Du Plessis, a professional kickboxer, made history as the first-ever South African to become an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion.
Mixed-martial arts (MMA) is continuing its rise on the African continent. Du Plessis’ win came in January in Toronto, when he took the title on a split decision from the reigning champion, Sean Strickland.
“We are still not over it and I do not think we are going to get over it anytime soon. It is a massive win for me. And more importantly, it is a massive win for South Africa and it is a massive honour for us to be a country now represented in a sport that we were never seen as a force to be reckoned with.”
Du Plessis’ wrestling style, with powerful kickboxing blows, was explosive against Strickland and he speaks about how their styles differ.
“I am a more complete fighter than him. That was what won me that fight. And I was hungrier, and you could see it. He was moving backwards the whole time just behind his jab. I was pressing forward, trying to engage in the whole time. I landed five takedowns. I landed a lot more kicks.”
Du Plessis not only brands himself as the first South African champion, but also the first African champion, which has caused some controversy. He explains, “I mean there are a lot of fighters with African heritage and champions with African heritage, but I am the only fighter, the only champion in the history of the UFC that was born, raised, residing, and trained in Africa. And I still live here. And that is special.”
He continues, “Of course they are African born and that is their heritage and always will be. But I am the only one that resides here. My whole team is from here. And I still live here today. I live here every single day. I have only lived here, and I am trained in Africa.”
Africa is the only continent yet to host a UFC event. Du Plessis says he is keen to change that.
“Absolutely. But bring it to my home country, bring it to South Africa. I think it will be massive. We have had the Rugby World Cup, we have had the Soccer World Cup. I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it.”
Du Plessis says his confidence comes from South African grit, but also from being underestimated as a technical fighter.
“I do not think the world realises what we are willing to do to win. We saw that in the Rugby World Cup. We have seen that in so many aspects and we saw that in me now. I have been written off in every single fight: ‘This guy doesn’t fight good, he’s not good enough. As soon as he gets the top 10, he’s going to lose . . .’ – We are willing to do whatever it takes. South Africans, we are built different. I always say we are built different mentally, physically, only South Africans understand this, if we are representing that flag, no matter what the sport, no matter what it is.”
The success of Du Plessis is inspiring young fighters all over the globe. He tells Madowo how people can get into the sport,
“Any form of martial arts. That is what I always say. And that is what is so incredible for me, the influence that this fight had. I am talking about small towns where they tell me the wrestling gym, the numbers doubled within the first month after my fight. A karate gym. It does not really matter what type of martial arts it is, just get going. Even if you do not want to pursue a career in this, just for fun. It teaches you so much about life, discipline, and hard work. You get out what you put in.”
He continues, “You can be as badass as you want, but at the end of the day, if you do not know the techniques, if you do not put in the work, if you do not know how to be in control of your mind, your aggression, your emotions, you cannot be successful in this.”
Finally, looking ahead, Du Plessis says that he is keen to defend his title and maybe take a second championship.
“Defending my belt, that is the immediate future. Defending my belt maybe once, twice, three times. I would like to defend my belt three times and then see what is happening in the weight above me. Try and get a go for that second world title. It is something that is in the future; not the near future, but future plans.”
- Referring to his fight with Israel Adesanya on 17 August in Perth, Australia, Du Plessis says he did not feel the rope anywhere in the fight but it was a tough fight. “I knew that it was going to be like that. I thought I would get the finish at the third round but he still had a lot of fight in him and we got into the fourth round and that is what happens when you are defending your world title,” said Du Plessis.
Du Plessis defended his UFC middleweight title after a fourth-round submission win over Adesanya in a blockbuster bout at the Perth Arena.
In the main event of UFC 305, Du Plessis appeared to be flagging against the two-time former champion before a spectacular takedown of Adesanya solidified his 185-pound belt.
Du Plessis (22-2) has now won ten fights in a row, having originally claimed the belt after beating Sean Strickland in January. South Africa’s Du Plessis is still undefeated in the Octagon, extending his UFC record to 8 – 0. – Reference MMA Knockout
