Dricus Du Plessis - trash talks and Quotes
Defiant Destiny, Awkward Power & the King of Pretoria
For years, Dricus Du Plessis was told he didn’t look like a champion. His style was labeled clunky. His gas tank was mocked. His movements became memes. And yet, when the dust settled, it was Stillknocks standing at the summit—the first South African UFC champion, forged not by aesthetics, but by outcomes. Dricus didn’t bend to the sport’s expectations, he broke them.
Du Plessis’ verbal style mirrors his fighting approach: defiant, pragmatic, and unapologetically direct. He doesn’t chase approval or soften edges. When he declared,
“I am the champion of the world… this is for South Africa,”
it wasn’t performative nationalism—it was vindication. His words carry the weight of years spent training at home, absorbing criticism, and refusing to outsource belief. DDP speaks like a man who learned early that comfort is optional, conviction is not.
That conviction fuels one of the most polarizing narratives in modern MMA: identity and ownership. His assertion that he is the African fighter who trains and lives in Africa ignited a rivalry with Israel Adesanya that transcended rankings and belts. It wasn’t just trash talk, it was a challenge to definitions—of roots, representation, and what it means to carry a continent’s flag. Dricus didn’t ask for permission to frame the debate. He set the terms and accepted the consequences.
Inside the cage, Du Plessis embodies pragmatic dominance. He’s openly indifferent to beauty points. “I’m not here to win a beauty pageant,” he’s said—and his results back it up. His awkwardness isn’t a flaw; it’s a weapon. Timing off-beat. Pressure unorthodox. Decision-making ruthless. Against elite opponents like Sean Strickland and Robert Whittaker, DDP’s approach consistently disrupted rhythms and exposed assumptions. He wins where others hesitate—by choosing effectiveness over elegance.
In the current MMA landscape, Dricus’ words matter because they legitimize a path long dismissed. Training at home. Trusting a style that doesn’t fit the highlight-reel mold. Turning criticism into clarity. His promise to South Africa—the path is open, the dream is real—reframes what’s possible for fighters outside traditional pipelines. That message resonates far beyond middleweight.
On SportzOnly, Du Plessis anchors the Resilience, Underdog Vindication, and National Pride sentiments. He is the King of Pretoria who proved that champions don’t need to look right—they need to be right.
Below is a chronological timeline of Dricus Du Plessis’ most defining statements—from provocation and pragmatism to legacy-building declarations. Read closely. With DDP, destiny wasn’t predicted—it was enforced.
Dricus Du Plessis's Statements About Other Fighters
“Imavov is getting the title shot. I think that's the only thing that really makes sense now... I think it's going to be an interesting fight, I think Khamzat wins that fight, for sure. The whole division has been mixed up... Right now, you don’t have anybody who’s consistently winning. That’s the problem. How do you pick a contender if you have guys that fight two great fights and one terrible one? The consistency isn’t there”
– via Fight Forecast predicting that Khamzat Chimaev will surely defeat Nassourdine Imavov.
“You win 2 fights and are calling out the former champ? I would love to smash his face in, he's such an idiot. For me though I don't want a hype fight, I want a fight that gets me the belt the quickest”
– via FightForecast, expressing interest in fighting Brendan Allen but prioritizing a matchup that leads directly to a title shot.
“Islam had an answer for every single thing JDM threw at him... It kind of looks a lot like the fight with myself and Chimaev. These guys have a style that needs to be figured out, and that's just the way the sport goes... These wrestlers, especially the Russian style wrestlers, just have something above the rest when it comes to wrestling and being able to control the guy on the floor”
– explains how Russian wrestling style paved way for Makhachev's victory via Fight Forecast
“All the hype is real when it comes to Aspinall. I just don’t think there’s a heavyweight in the world that can even compete with him on the feet, on the grappling side of things. Now wrestling wise… when it comes to wrestling, he does what he needs to, but when he gets to the ground he’s really skillful”
– predicts Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane headliner at UFC 321 via MMA FIghting
“Khamzat, there's no way he beats Pereira. I think Pereira right now is one of the greatest to ever do it in this sport or in any combat sport. He's a big guy. Even now at light heavyweight, he looked so big against Ankalaev, it was crazy. That's all hype. I don't think there's any realistic chance that ever happens.”
Read all statements about Khamzat Chimaev
“Khamzat, there's no way he beats Pereira. I think Pereira right now is one of the greatest to ever do it in this sport or in any combat sport. He's a big guy. Even now at light heavyweight, he looked so big against Ankalaev, it was crazy. That's all hype. I don't think there's any realistic chance that ever happens.”
Read all statements about Alex Pereira
“Merab Dvalishvili is an absolute warrior!!”
– via instagram story for accepting 4th title defense bout in the same year.
“I really don't see this fight going the distance this time. I'm puttin gmy money on Pereira.”
Read all statements about Alex Pereira