South African mixed martial artist Dricus ‘Stillknocks’ du Plessis has etched his name in the annals of UFC history by becoming the first-ever South African to clinch a UFC belt. In a historic showdown, du Plessis faced off against Sean Strickland in a five-round bout, marking a significant moment in his decade-long professional career.
The fiercely contested fight went the distance, lasting the full five rounds, and it was ultimately decided by a split decision in favor of Stillknocks. The crowd erupted in celebration as du Plessis secured the historic UFC title.
Reflecting on the closely contested match, du Plessis stated, “I honestly thought with the takedowns, I made sure on every round I could feel it was a close one.” Despite conceding the first round, du Plessis showcased his resilience, delivering blood-inducing shots and impactful blows throughout the fight.
“Now they know what we know,” exclaimed Du Plessis rightfully after securing the victory, underscoring the significance of his triumph.
While many anticipated the experienced Strickland to have the upper hand in a five-round bout, du Plessis defied expectations, proving his prowess in the extended format. The South African fighter addressed pre-fight skepticism, saying, “Everybody said when it goes past half-way that I had a point to prove. How’s that for rounds four and five? Who says this guy’s not a five-round fighter? What did I tell you?”
In the aftermath of the exhilarating match, an out-of-breath du Plessis expressed his joy, describing the feeling of defeating one of the UFC’s best fighters as “absolutely amazing.” He acknowledged the significance of going toe-to-toe with a top-tier opponent, proclaiming, “Just went toe-to-toe with the best boxer in the UFC, they said. I guess there’s a new title for that, too. There’s a new fighter of the year, too!”