Latest news with #SiasduPlessisShow
The South African
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Dricus du Plessis' next UFC fight CONFIRMED
On Tuesday UFC owner Dana White announced that Dricus du Plessis will defend his belt against Khamzat Chimaev. After much speculation, the fight is happening and is scheduled for August 16 in Chicago, USA. This has been on the cards for some while. Earlier in the year, when asked about the prospect of a UFC bout against Chimaev, du Plessis told reporters, 'I think everyone has been moving backwards trying to evade that takedown, 'I'm not scared of Khamzat's wrestling. I'm not evading. I'm not trying to stay off the ground with Khamzat. That's the mistake everyone makes. I'm going to fight Khamzat wherever the fight goes.' Du Plessis has longed for a fight on home soil, but there's a few obstacles to overcome before White will give the green light. 'The biggest problem that I see is that a UFC ticket in the T-Mobile Arena – I think the cheapest seat in that arena is $300. So that's R6000. The ringside seat, where the fighters walk out, is $45 000. That's R900 000,' Du Plessis explained on the Sias du Plessis Show. 'So let's say we get an arena, we have a 14 000 seater, we definitely have that. But the prices are going to be… we don't have that kind of money,' the UFC champion continued. 'Where are you going to get 14 000 people where the cheapest seat in the back is probably R10 000? That's the biggest problem we have, and that's why they need to make it big.' '[Hosting UFC Africa] is my dream, it's South Africa's dream, but the UFC's dream is making money. They're a business. They want to make it happen; they just need to find out how it's viable.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
09-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Dricus du Plessis details why South Africa won't host the UFC anytime soon
UFC Africa—you want it, I want it, and Dricus du Plessis wants it. Like Formula One, South Africa has been persistent in its desire to host one of the world's most daring sporting spectacles, and who better to lead Africa's inaugural UFC event than the Middleweight Champion himself? Africa has had its fair share of mixed martial arts (MMA) champions, from Cameroonian Francis Ngannou to Nigerian Kamaru Usman and Du Plessis, who is the latest regional fighter to take the crown. And of all three origins, South Africa, ripe with modern sporting infrastructure, is the likeliest destination to host a UFC event. So, why not now? The biggest obstacles blocking UFC Africa from materialising are income-per-capita and an indoor arena capable of hosting stadium-like numbers, the latter due to Dana White's dislike of outdoor events. 'The biggest problem that I see is that a UFC ticket in the T-Mobile Arena – I think the cheapest seat in that arena is $300. So that's R6000. The ringside seat, where the fighters walk out, is $45 000. That's R900 000,' Du Plessis explained on the Sias du Plessis Show. 'So let's say we get an arena, we have a 14 000 seater, we definitely have that. But the prices are going to be… we don't have that kind of money,' the UFC champion continued. 'Where are you going to get 14 000 people where the cheapest seat in the back is probably R10 000? That's the biggest problem we have, and that's why they need to make it big.' '[Hosting UFC Africa] is my dream, it's South Africa's dream, but the UFC's dream is making money. They're a business. They want to make it happen; they just need to find out how it's viable.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Express Tribune
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev fight date revealed
Listen to article UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has confirmed that a long-anticipated title clash with undefeated contender Khamzat Chimaev is all but official, with a fight announcement expected "very soon." Speaking on the Sias du Plessis Show, the South African champion revealed that while nothing has been signed yet, he has agreed to two potential fight dates. 'We have a date. We have the potential of two dates. I already agreed to both,' du Plessis said. 'A lot of people asking if it's this year. Yes, 100 percent. It's not that far away.' The 30-year-old champion also dismissed recent speculation that he was injured and would not return in 2025. 'All these rumors that came out about injuries, I don't know where they came from. It was ridiculous,' he said. 'I just left it for a week and thought, 'Everybody had their fun. Now you're all gonna look stupid.'' Du Plessis (23-3) captured the middleweight title earlier this year and has since been fielding questions about his first defence. The answer appears to be Chimaev (14-0), a rising force in the UFC known for his relentless style and dominance across weight classes. 'We've already agreed on a date, and that's been a while ago. So I'm just waiting for the contract,' du Plessis added. 'That's the fight that's happening. It's gonna be happening in the next couple of months, maximum four months.' While the UFC has yet to confirm the matchup, du Plessis' comments suggest the promotion is in the final stages of securing what would be one of the most anticipated middleweight title bouts in recent memory.
