Financial, venue issues KO's plans for Dricus du Plessis' title defence on SA soil
Dricus du Plessis Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis (above) for the middleweight title in the main event of UFC 319 on August 16 in Chicago. Photo: AFP
In a bittersweet turn of events for local fight fans, Dricus du Plessis, the reigning UFC world middleweight champion, has failed in his quest to defend his title on home soil.
During a candid podcast discussion, Du Plessis, who has emerged as a formidable force in the UFC, detailed the challenges currently stymying his wish.
Financial constraints and suitability issues surrounding potential venues that are compliant with UFC standards posed massive problems.
With a potent mix of skill and charisma inside the octagon, Du Plessis has rapidly gained traction in the UFC, capturing the hearts of fans worldwide.

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