Sports Minister cheers UFC champ Dricus du Plessis

Minister Zizi Kodwa applauds Dricus du Plessis for clinching the UFC Middleweight title, marking South Africa’s historic moment in sports.

Du Plessis secured a split decision victory against Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in Ontario, Canada, claiming the middleweight belt

.ALSO READ:Dricus du Plessis does it the Springbok way and wins by one point

Kodwa expressed his congratulations, emphasising that du Plessis has proudly represented South Africa on the global stage.

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Ministry spokesperson Litha Mpondwana highlighted the Minister’s delight in witnessing South Africans unite in diverse support for du Plessis’ historic achievement.

Minister Kodwa encourages maintaining this spirit of unity as South Africans continue making history on the global sports, arts, and culture platforms.

Just like the Springboks who repeatedly came through Rugby World Cup matches by the slenderest of margins, Du Plessis secure a split decision victory and won by the smallest possible margin.

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FOLLOWING THE SPRINGBOK WAY WITH A ONE POINT VICTORY

With the judges scoring the fight 48-47, 48-47, 47-48 Du Plessis was named the new UFC Middleweight champion of the world in Toronto on Sunday 21 January.

While those scores are not cumulative, if either of the judges who had Du Plessis winning gave him one less point, Sean Strickland would have retained his UFC title.

UFC boss Dana White believes that Strickland might have edged the fight but he was happy with the outcome and said that there wouldn’t be a consideration of a rematch at this stage.

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“I had it 2-2 going into the last round, and I thought Strickland won the last round,” White said.

NO REMATCH

Du Plessis is the first South African-born champion in the history of the UFC. He has now won all seven of his bouts in the UFC but his win over Strickland was his first by split decision.

WATCH: Springboks rally around Dricus du Plessis

During his time in the EFC, the South African-based MMA promotion, Du Plessis’ fights were all concluded by a finish. His battle with Strickland was just the second time that one of his fights went to the judges and the first time he had fought for five rounds.

It has been over five years since Du Plessis has suffered a defeat in the octagon. That defeat came in October 2018 when he lost the KSW welterweight title to Roberto Soldić in London. Du Plessis has not fought in the lighter welterweight division since and is considered a much better fighter at middleweight. 

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