After 5 rounds in a fierce main event at UFC 297 at the Scotiabank Arena in Ontario, Canada, this morning, Sunday 21 January, Du Plessis claimed a well fought victory on a split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) showing once again that for South Africa, one point is all it takes. 

With the Springboks’ successful title defence in the 2023 Rugby World Cup consisting of a few ‘one point wonder’ wins, Dricus du Plessis managed to create a similar suspense all over South Africa as the decision announcement was made at the end of his 5 rounds in this mornings’ fight. 

With all of South Africa behind him, this has again become a victory that we, as a nation, can be so proud of. 

Messages of support prior to the fight streamed in and now upon his win it has been no different. Multiple victory celebrations shared, one from Rassie Erasmus himself as he took to the social media platform X, formerly known as twitter, stating;

“You fight a lonely sport with little support but you did it,” followed by the words that have become second nature to state as a South African, “hulle sal nooit weet wat ons weet nie!” 

Earlier this week, leading up to the fight, Joe Rogan commented on Du Plessis’ fight style, coining it deceptively technical as he referred to the MMA fighter's awkward movements and stutter step motion being very difficult to time.

With this, ‘Stillknocks’ du Plessis gave this fight his all with resilience and offensive variety taking him to the end. Du Plessis now becomes the first South African to claim a UFC title and ultimately has managed to keep his winning streak clean. 

Speaking on his fight after the winning announcement, Dricus du Plessis spoke with UFC great, Daniel Cormier, stating;

“I honestly thought, with the takedowns I made sure every round... I could feel it was a close fight, I definitely gave him the first round,” said du Plessis, “I tried to get that takedown in the first to level the playing field and I felt that he gets up really well, but I can get under him and get him down because I’m stronger.

"I felt the first three rounds were give and take, but the last two rounds I know... everybody said when it goes past halfway and I had a point to prove... How's that for round four and five.” 

Dricus has been unbeaten in the UFC since his series debut in October of 2020, he managed to secure six successive wins to become the top contender in the division and with his last outing bringing an impressive second-round TKO of Robert Whittaker in July 2023, this win means he gets to top that.

In a sport that requires a very high and detailed level of skill, Du Plessis truly is to be widely and largely celebrated for what he has managed to achieve in this sport thus far. He has made South Africa proud. 

Kayla Barker/OFM Sport