South Africa’s MMA star Dricus du Plessis is now the favourite for his middleweight title fight at UFC 297 on Saturday. Photo: Steve Marcus/AFP
Donald Trump congratulates Dricus du Plessis in viral video – WATCH
Former United States President Donald Trump was the first fan to congratulate South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis following his win at UFC 290.
South Africa’s MMA star Dricus du Plessis is now the favourite for his middleweight title fight at UFC 297 on Saturday. Photo: Steve Marcus/AFP
Former United States President Donald Trump was the first spectator to congratulate South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis following his stunning win over Australia’s Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in Las Vegas on Saturday.
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Trump, now 77, is a big UFC fan and is often in attendance ring-side at the organisation’s pay-per-views events.
Trump was seated alongside Dana White as a special guest of the UFC president.
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After winning his bout in the second round due to strikes, Du Plessis climbed the octagon fence and spotted Trump in his seat.
Donald Trump shook hands
Du Plessis jumped down and shook hands with the former American president as well as with White.
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As reported by The South African website, the referee called an end to Du Plessis’s fight 2:23 minutes into the second round.
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Du Plessis, nicknamed ‘Stillknocks’, was a massive underdog with the bookmakers heading into the bout, but the win saw him move to a perfect 6-0 in his UFC career.
Du Plessis, 29, will now fight Nigeria-born New Zealander and middleweight champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia on 10 September 2023.
Adesanya will turn 34 on 22 July.
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