SUMMARY
- Dricus du Plessis won against Sean Strickland via a split decision, claiming the belt.
- Fans of the newly crowned champion were gathered in the airport lobby in huge numbers to welcome him.
Dricus du Plessis is a professional mixed martial artist from South Africa. Also known as ‘Stillknocks’, Du Plessis competes in the UFC middleweight division, where he is the current undisputed champion. Dricus won his championship recently against Sean Strickland at UFC 297 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 20, 2024.
Dricus won against Sean Strickland via split decision, claiming the belt and becoming the first South African UFC champion. With a record of 21-2-0, Dricus keeps his unbeaten streak in the UFC intact. He was initially slated to fight against Israel Adesanya, the 2-time former middleweight champion, in September 2023 for the title, but suffered an injury that ruled him out of the fight.
Strickland was called up instead and surprised everyone by defeating Adesanya to claim the belt. But with the dust now settled at the top of the middleweight division, it is the South African who reigns supreme. It was a close fight in Toronto, and many, including Dana White, later claimed Strickland should have won.
After 5 rounds @DricusDuPlessis gets the split decision and is YOUR NEW middleweight champion 🏆#UFC297 pic.twitter.com/xyR1Bsn2Fa
— UFC (@ufc) January 21, 2024
But Dricus du Plessis has completed his conquest of becoming the world’s best middleweight and has now started his journey to become the best-ever middleweight, as he often states in front of the media. But there is a considerable amount of time before Du Plessis returns to the Octagon. After the triumph in Canada, he returned to his homeland of South Africa. He received the hero’s welcome that he deserved.
The city of Kempton Park, especially the O.R. Tambo International Airport, was buzzing at around 9 a.m. on January 25. Fans of the newly crowned champion and UFC enthusiasts were gathered in the airport lobby in huge numbers. Everyone had their eyes peeled at the terminal exit point from where the middleweight champion of the UFC would soon walk out.
Fans react to Dricus du Plessis’ grand welcome back to his homeland
When Dricus du Plessis did walk out, all of those who were eagerly waiting went into a frenzy. Calling out his name and welcoming Dricus as if he were one of their own. This scenario was posted on Instagram by Carlos Hayes, owner and founder of C.H. Diamonds in South Africa, and one of Du Plessis’ acquaintances.
View this post on Instagram
Netizens reacted to the grand welcome of Dricus du Plessis, who returned home with a victory behind his back and a belt around his waist. Many users congratulated the champion with heartwarming messages. One fan wrote, “Right in the feels brother”. Others wrote “The People’s Champ” and “What a moment”.
Apart from people congratulating him, there were some directed towards others too. A lot of those were directed toward another man of African descent, Israel Adesanya, also known as ‘The Last Stylebender’. One fan commented, “Adesanya could never pull such crowds in Africa”. Another said, “@stylebender this is how you bring a belt back to AFRICA”.
One guy said, “@stylebender this is what a african welcome looks like”. Another fan targeted Kamaru Usman and Francis Ngannou as well. The fan said, “Never saw Israel, kamaru or Francis do this . Come back “home” with the title . Coz they dont stay in Africa. The real African champ”.
Some fans put out a thought for the promise Dricus du Plessis had made a few days before UFC 297. One guy commented, “He promised and he delivered🇿🇦!!” Another said, “He told them to remember the name. He said it would be a household name. He kept his word”. His haters might not have remembered his words, but his fans sure did. The way they welcomed him back says it all.
Dricus du Plessis delivers on the promise he made to the whole of South Africa
Two weeks before he was announced as the new UFC Middleweight Champion of the world, Dricus du Plessis shared a message with his well-wishers through social media. On January 6, Dricus took to Instagram to post an update about the completion of his training camp for the preparation of his upcoming fight.
The caption of the post is what caught the attention of his fandom. the caption read, “That’s a wrap!
Hard part of camp is in the books, prepare to see the best Stillknocks by far step in there 20 Jan. My coaches my team and everyone involved in this camp I will be forever grateful”.
View this post on Instagram
In the same caption, Dricus promised himself, his team, and the people of South Africa something. He wrote, “Tonight we fly out to go get what I promised myself, those who’ve always been in my corner and the Whole South Africa. I promise you I’m bringing home the @ufc MW title or I’ll die trying”.
After posting that Instagram post, Du Plessis has now achieved what he had promised his people. Stillknocks delivered on his promise in the most exhilarating way possible. With his name now having the suffix of ‘Champion’, Du Plessis will enjoy his days back in his beloved country before he starts his journey towards becoming the greatest middleweight ever.