News

South Africa Celebrates Dricus du Plessis with a Hero’s Welcome Upon His Return

Published

4 months ago

January 26, 2024

Dricus du Plessis returned to SA. He received a hero’s welcome at O.R. Tambo International Airport following his win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297. The 30-year-old previously vowed to bring a UFC title back to the country. A spirited chant of ‘DDP’ echoed through the crowd at the airport.

Dricus is the first UFC champion from South Africa and the fourth born on the African continent. He joins the ranks of:

Israel Adesanya (Nigeria),
Francis Ngannou (Cameroon), and
Kamaru Usman (Nigeria).

Also read: Dricus du Plessis Makes History as South Africa’s First UFC World Champion

Du Plessis expressed his gratitude, calling the reception “absolutely incredible.”

His recent split decision victory over Strickland added another win to Du Plessis’ flawless 7-0 UFC record. Looking ahead, he sees a potential grudge match with Adesanya, with the prospect of it happening as early as UFC 300 on April 13, contingent on Du Plessis’ health and Adesanya’s decision to end his self-imposed hiatus.

Should the Adesanya fight not materialise, Du Plessis has several intriguing options on the horizon, including former champion Robert Whittaker facing Paulo Costa at UFC 298 on February 17, Brendan Allen defending his six-fight win streak against Marvin Vettori on April 6, and the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev. The South African champion is poised for an exciting and eventful journey in the UFC.

Source: Watch: Dricus du Plessis receives hero’s welcome on return to SA

Also read: