UFC star Dricus du Plessis on rugby and his own 'World Cup final'

He gave beer to Aquaman during the Rugby World Cup final, got jumped last week at UFC 296, and now he’s sparring with Jim Hamilton. Dricus du Plessis has had an eventful few months, and the best could still be to come.

The South African MMA star and UFC title hopeful is a huge rugby fan and recently took time out of training to chat to Big Jim in Pretoria, exclusively for RugbyPass TV.

Du Plessis was famously in the stands at the RWC 2023 final, making himself heard alongside the likes of VIPs Jason Momoa, Rita Ora and Novak Djokovic, some of which were very quiet by the time South Africa lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time in succession.

The Middleweight title challenger has rugby in his blood and says that growing up in South Africa, the sport has always been a part of his life and the respect he has for the players now is huge.

"I've always been a big rugby guy. Massive, massive respect for professional rugby. I know quite a few of them. I've trained with them at my gym. Some of them came for some wrestling exercises - great for rugby.

"Being a big Springbok supporter, winning a World Cup, back to back, it's incredible.

"As South Africans, we are very very passionate when it comes to sport. Make no mistake, when our teams don't perform, South Africans get angry. But at the end of the day we'll always be watching and supporting our guys.

Du Plessis is set to take on current UFC Middleweight champion Sean Strickland for the title early next year.

At UFC 296, the title holder lost his cool and attacked Du Plessis in the crowd, partially a result of poor seating planning by UFC president Dana White, but the South African star was neither injured nor phased, exchanging some jabs in the media but staying fully focused on the task at hand.

"A Rugby World Cup is massive, and me fighting for a world title, it's massive. It's almost a build up like a World Cup final for me, and the whole country is getting behind me.

"I'm a Springbok, just in a different sport."

Du Plessis faces Strickland for the Middleweight title at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada on Saturday, January 20, 2024.

Watch the full chat with Du Plessis, including the sparring session with Big Jim, free on RugbyPass TV