“I know the conversations are there between the UFC and South Africa, and the sports ministers, and the cities, and the arenas—everything is in conversation.” Dricus Du Plessis told the New York Post ahead of his title defense against Khamzat Chimaev. Since 2017, the South African middleweight champion hasn’t fought on home soil, but he hasn’t given up hope yet. He is continuing his efforts to persuade the UFC to finally make its debut on the continent, if possible South Africa.
Recently, the PFL beat the UFC to it by hosting an event in Cape Town on July 19. Now, however, the 31-year-old’s optimism is starting to wane. While Dana White reportedly turned down Illia Topuria’s desire to host UFC 317 in Spain, Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t want to walk down the same aisle. Although he is focused on his Chechnya-born opponent, the 31-year-old is hoping that achieving another milestone in his career in the UFC may finally push the UFC to come to Africa.
“Absolutely, but as of right now, I 100% agree with Ilia being at the top of that list,” ‘Stillknocks’ told the MMA Guru when asked whether beating Khamzat Chimaev would make him the pound-for-pound number 1 in the UFC. Even though the Welkom, South Africa native is the underdog going into the fight, he has gained notoriety with his wins over Robert Whittaker, Sean Strickland, and fellow African Israel Adesanya, generating well over $20 million in gate revenue (UFC 297+UFC 305+UFC 312) for the UFC.
Dricus Du Plessis | via Imago
“But after this fight, and if I give the performance that I believe that I’m going to and that I know I can and the way I prepared for, I’m definitely going to that spot,” Du Plessis added. When asked if defeating Chimaev might finally earn him a fight in South Africa, the middleweight champion said he wants it to happen—but he’ll believe it only when he sees it. “I’m telling you, we want to do it… They are trying,” he stated.
“Maybe [beating Chimaev] will be enough. Winning a title wasn’t. It was said it would be. Then defending it wasn’t. Then fighting another African-born fighter wasn’t. But it is what it is. I mean, that’s out of my control, really. So I [am not] going to spend time with being worried about that at all,” Du Plessis told the MMA Guru. He later revealed his eagerness to step onto his home turf and defend his title.
“I can’t tell you how badly South Africa wants that and how badly I want it. It is, for me, one of the goals.” However, the big question is, can Du Plessis really beat Khamzat Chimaev?
Israel Adesanya on Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who has firsthand experience of fighting Du Plessis, claims the first few minutes will be critical in the fight. “I look at this fight two ways: Khamzat comes out, gets a hold of DDP, and just drags him into deep water in the first or second, and finishes him,” Adesanya said in his YouTube video.
Credits: IMAGO
“Or DDP matches his crazy, Khamzat’s crazy with his type of crazy and his willingness to not quit, and then drags Khamzat into deep waters in the third, fourth, or fifth round and gets him out of there,” Adesanya added. Despite his contrasting views on the fight, ‘The Last Stylebender’ ended up predicting, “I say Round 3 or 4, DDP.”
Yet, he claimed that if Chimaev wins, it will be in the first round, in a “spectacular and violent” fashion.
At least, Israel Adesanya thinks Dricus Du Plessis can beat Khamzat Chimaev. And if he indeed pulls it off, it would be interesting to see whether Dana White can be convinced to send UFC to Africa. Until then, do you think the middleweight champ can create an upset? Would you like to see UFC in Africa next?
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