‘I Was Handsome Before The Fight: Dricus du Plessis Recounts UFC Bout
Before Dricus du Plessis’ UFC championship bout, he had stated that he was determined to emerge as a champion, or “die trying”.
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It certainly was a war of attrition with Strickland, an elite technical striker who was highly successful with his piston-like jabs that left Du Plessis bloodied, bruised but unbowed.
“The jab was beautiful,” said UFC president Dana White after the encounter. “You don’t see jabs like that in MMA. And the jabs did what they’re supposed to do. Both of his (Du Plessis’) eyes were swelling shut.”
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DRICUS DU PLESSIS LEFT BATTERED AND BRUISED AFTER UFC BOUT
Du Plessis admitted it had been a hugely physical bout, jokingly suggesting he had lost his good looks as a result of the battle.
“Do you remember how handsome I was before this fight?” he said with a belly laugh. “I look like a cauliflower now. I’m pretty banged up right now.”
Dricus Du Plessis: “I look like a cauliflower”; Israel Adesanya at UFC 3… https://t.co/Y6BrE1K694 via @YouTube
— Smell The Coffee (@SmellTheCoffee) January 22, 2024
.@dricusduplessis's face after a hard fought W 👀😳 pic.twitter.com/t6umM997Pm
— theScore (@theScore) January 21, 2024
“It felt like 15 years of work, of dreaming of sacrificing. Everything came together.”
A banged-up Dricus du Plessis on winning the UFC middleweight title.
On his injuries:
“A little banged up? Do you remember how handsome I was before the fight? I look like a cauliflower.” pic.twitter.com/JoRXNRwTLK
— Adam Laskaris (@adam_la2karis) January 21, 2024
DU PLESSIS MAKES UFC HISTORY
Du Plessis became the first fighter from South Africa to hold a title in the most prestigious organisation in mixed martial arts.
“Wow. The emotions I felt when I heard the judges scores being read,” Du Plessis said in the post-fight press conference after UFC297.
“It felt like 15 years of work, of dreaming and sacrifices came together in that one single sentence.”
