Dricus du Plessis Promises an Unstoppable Comeback After UFC Defeat
The South African UFC fighter, Dricus du Plessis, has assured that he will return to the octagon stronger than ever after his defeat for the middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. “My quest for greatness will be unimaginable for the average mind,” he declared. After spending the week recovering with friends and family, ‘Stillknocks’ shared his reflections on social media. Despite accepting the defeat, Du Plessis sent a warning to his critics.Du Plessis, the first UFC champion from South Africa, emphasized his determination: “Make no mistake, I am not a good loser, because a good loser becomes a frequent one. However, I am an avid learner of the arts and of life itself.” He continued saying: “This defeat has ignited a desire in me that will result in an attack greater than the original domination: my return to glory and the pursuit of greatness will be unimaginable to the average mind.” The fighter also acknowledged his opponent’s superiority: “I have absolutely no excuse for my performance, I was beaten by a better fighter that night, congratulations to my opponent and thank you for the honor of sharing the octagon with you.” Furthermore, he expressed his gratitude: “And sincerely, thank you to all those who enjoyed seeing me fall, because I will return the favor, as I always have.” Du Plessis’ path to the title included victories over Sean Strickland in January 2024, and successful defenses against Israel Adesanya in August and again against Strickland in February of this year. His third title defense, against Chimaev, did not go as planned. Chimaev dominated Du Plessis from the start, controlling all five rounds on the ground. Although Du Plessis resisted submission, Chimaev won by unanimous decision. After the fight, Du Plessis praised his opponent: “The man has incredible control on top. It wasn’t a matter of strength, it wasn’t physical, it was almost as if he knew what your next move would be.” He concluded by saying: “I almost could taste that victory [with the choke in the fifth round], but he beat me fair and square. He was the better man tonight. I will be back to reclaim my belt, but for now, it’s his. He deserves it.”I accept this defeat with open arms, because believe me, as much as I hate losing, it’s part of life and our game, and I think it’s necessary in my quest for greatness. “Without the bitter, the sweet wouldn’t be so sweet”.
Dricus du Plessis
