After a successful trip to Canada that saw him claim middleweight gold against Sean Strickland at UFC 297, newly crowned UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis has received a hero’s welcome back home in South Africa.
“Stillknocks,” a former KSW welterweight champ and double champ in South African promotion EFC (welterweight and middleweight) is the first-ever UFC champ from the country, and remains unbeaten in the promotion. He arrived in the UFC in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and quickly amassed a strong resume with wins over Derek Brunson, Darren Till, Robert Whittaker, and now Strickland.
The throngs of fans awaiting Du Plessis’ return, chanting DDP, was reminiscent of the hero’s welcome then-light heavyweight champ Jiri Prochazka received in the Czech Republic when he brought the UFC title home.
Dricus Du Plessis made a brief statement to South African media upon his arrival on Thursday, thanking fans for their support. “Thank you to all the people. This moment wouldn’t be so special without all the people being here. This makes it all worth it.”
[ON AIR] UFC Middleweight World Champion Dricus du Plessis returns home. He's the first South African to win a UFC world title. #DStv403 #eNCA pic.twitter.com/bUd3keu8Hn
— eNCA (@eNCA) January 25, 2024
Next steps for Du Plessis could be interesting, as he has a ready-made, big-money rivalry with Israel Adesanya. The UFC had been looking to book the pair last fall, but with DDP injured, Strickland took the fight instead, and pulled off the Upset of the Year. Adesanya then announced he was taking time off from fighting, though a chance to get in the cage with Dricus Du Plessis could potentially lure him back.
If not, the door may open for a challenger like Jared Cannonier, looking for his second shot at gold.
