‘Could’ve been a Springbok’: How Dricus du Plessis turned rugby dream into UFC world title shot
Dricus du Plessis is a genuine sporting superstar in South Africa, and will fight for a world title this weekend. But it all could’ve been so different.
UFC
Don't miss out on the headlines from UFC. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Dricus du Plessis opens his phone, leans forward and says, “Look at this.”
It’s his Facebook page, and he shows a video of Springboks players – including two-time World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi, and veteran backs Handre Pollard and Jesse Kriel – wishing him well for his UFC 297 middleweight title fight in Toronto this weekend.
Starting this weekend, Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel will be the exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View events in Australia.
As scrolls down, his feed is flooded with stories, videos and graphics about his title challenge against Sean Strickland.
For a man who once dreamt of wearing a Springboks jersey at a World Cup before making the leap into the unknown of professional fighting, it’s a lot to take in.
“There’s watch parties all across South Africa, the Springboks are making videos – everyone’s going crazy,” du Plessis tells this masthead.
“It’s like my fight is the only thing that’s happening in South Africa.
“It’s a very new sport by comparison, but the support is just insane. It’s like a World Cup for us.”
Du Plessis believes MMA is close to overtaking cricket in terms of popularity in South Africa, but you have to rewind 12 years to get a true understanding of how far the sport has come in the Rainbow Nation.
A talented kid growing up in a rugby-mad household, du Plessis played under-19s Currie Cup for the Blue Bulls and even toured Argentina as a teenager.
A flanker, he idolised Schalk Burger and dreamt of one day playing at Loftus Versfeld, Ellis Park or Newlands while wearing a green Springboks jersey. He had a fully paid athletic scholarship to play rugby and study, but was quickly being pulled towards fighting.
Just a week before he was due to start his studies, he decided to give rugby away and focus on fighting.
His old man was furious.
“Up until I was 18, rugby is what I wanted to do for a living,” he tells this masthead.
“Dad wasn’t happy at all, because I was still an amateur and he didn’t know what I was going to do for money.
“He also had to pay for all my studies, but I just loved fighting so much.”
No one in South Africa knew what MMA was back then, but du Plessis had a simple reason for taking the path he chose.
“I’d been playing rugby since I was five, and I knew I was good at rugby – I honestly think I could have become a Springbok,” he says.
“But I don’t think I would’ve been a great.
“I don’t think I would’ve made the same impact in rugby as I am in fighting.
“In fighting, I have something special.”
His decision has already paid off, with du Plessis tearing through the UFC’s middleweight division on the way to his title shot as he became a legitimate superstar back home.
He estimates there are five times as many people following MMA now than there were a decade ago, and is adamant more people will be tuning in to his fight than to any Proteas cricket game this year.
And, although he doesn’t play anymore, rugby is still a big part of his life.
Hours before his UFC 290 win over Robert Whittaker last year, he pumped himself up by watching the Boks obliterate the Wallabies 43-12.
Later in the year, he sat in the Presidential box alongside Novak Djokovic and Jason Momoa as South Africa won a fourth Rugby World Cup in a thrilling final against the All Blacks.
“Greatest day of my life,” he says simply. “It was amazing.
“That was history in the making, becoming the first team to win four World Cups, and against New Zealand, our arch nemesis. It was crazy.
“Guys like Siya Kolisi are people I look up to. I saw them off at the airport before the World Cup, and that was one of the biggest honours of my life.
“They’re superheroes, but now I’m being seen as a superhero in my country, it’s such a great feeling.
“South Africa’s such an amazing country, especially when it comes to sport and celebrating our athletes.
“Now this weekend I get my chance to create history as well.”
Originally published as ‘Could’ve been a Springbok’: How Dricus du Plessis turned rugby dream into UFC world title shot
Zero cares: The Chimaev whispers that don’t worry Whittaker
Rob Whittaker is prepared for a hostile reception when he walks out to fight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308, but what he does not concern him is his opponent’s history of illness and struggling to make weight.
Aussie UFC star’s nervous wait for revenge
Alex Volkanovski is ready to rumble again, but he faces a “tricky” dilemma as he looks to win his UFC belt back on home soil next year.