MMA fighters say on a regular basis that they’re keen to die within the cage with the intention to really feel the spirit of victory, however UFC middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis says he’s keen to take issues a lot additional than that.
Du Plessis defends his title this Saturday in the principle occasion of UFC 312 in a rematch in opposition to Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia. Forward of most fights, Strickland guarantees the followers that he’s keen to ship and take brutality within the octagon, however in a current interview forward of the combat, du Plessis revealed a bone-chilling reality about his in-fight mentality.
“After I go in there, if the ref doesn’t cease it, I’m not stopping,” du Plessis informed Mark Bouris. “I may be sitting on you for 10 minutes bashing your face and if the ref doesn’t say cease, I’m not stopping.
“That’s the query that me, as a modern-day gladiator has to ask myself: Am I nonetheless keen to die? Completely. That’s simple. It’s, are you keen to kill a person in entrance of his household? Sure, I’m, and that’s why I’m the world champion, as a result of I say sure to that query each single time.
“However that’s Dricus ‘Stillknocks’ du Plessis, that’s not Dricus the man that you simply see proper right here.”
Of their first assembly a bit over a 12 months in the past, du Plessis defeated Strickland to seize his first world title by way of break up determination at UFC 297. “Stillknocks” efficiently defended the belt by stopping Israel Adesanya in August at UFC 305, whereas Strickland earned the rematch with a call win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June.
Strickland already laid out a problem to du Plessis to have an all-standup combat which garnered some headlines. Du Plessis was puzzled by that, since he feels he gave Strickland what he requested for 13 months in the past.
“That was precisely what we did the final time,” du Plessis mentioned. “He mentioned, ‘To demise, let’s go, ‘let’s combat to demise,’ and the person threw a jab and a teep for 5 rounds. And it is a stat, you may examine it, for 23 minutes I went ahead, he went ahead for 2 minutes.
“That could be a very clear indication of who’s there to combat, and who’s there to defend. He’s not banging, and pay attention, very efficient model. That’s his model, however let’s not go and act as if Sean Strickland fights are entertaining. The person has eight break up choices — six victories, two losses in opposition to me and Cannonier. That isn’t anyone who’s on the lookout for an thrilling combat.”
