{"id":47413,"date":"2024-08-29T12:14:44","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T10:14:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/south-africas-first-middleweight-champion-dricus-du-plessis-20240829-3\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T15:09:40","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T13:09:40","slug":"south-africas-first-middleweight-champion-dricus-du-plessis-20240829-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/south-africas-first-middleweight-champion-dricus-du-plessis-20240829-3\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa\u2019s first middleweight champion \u2013 Dricus du Plessis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an exclusive interview with Larry Madowo of CNN\u2019s 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.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Du Plessis, a professional kickboxer, made history as the first-ever South African to become an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mixed-martial arts (MMA) is continuing its rise on the African continent. Du Plessis\u2019 win came in January in Toronto, when he took the title on a split decision from the reigning champion, Sean Strickland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Du Plessis\u2019 wrestling style, with powerful kickboxing blows, was explosive against Strickland and he speaks about how their styles differ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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, \u201cI 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He continues, \u201cOf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Africa is the only continent yet to host a UFC event. Du Plessis says he is keen to change that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbsolutely. 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Du Plessis says his confidence comes from South African grit, but also from being underestimated as a technical fighter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI 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: \u2018This guy doesn\u2019t fight good, he\u2019s not good enough. As soon as he gets the top 10, he\u2019s going to lose . . .\u2019 \u2013 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The success of Du Plessis is inspiring young fighters all over the globe. He tells Madowo how people can get into the sport, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He continues, \u201cYou 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, looking ahead, Du Plessis says that he is keen to defend his title and maybe take a second championship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDefending 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n