UFC: Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth’s role in Springboks ‘superfan’ Dricus du Plessis’ title fight
Split with Springboks Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and UFC star Dricus du Plessis.
UFC Middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis confirmed that Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth will be leading him out to the octagon for his title defence against Israel Adesanya.
Du Plessis has long been a close supporter of the Springboks and has been open about how the success of the South African side inspired his run into the Middleweight title.
“The stars aligning”
As a result, the fighter has formed a strong bond with the team and was a flag bearer for an All Blacks Test in 2022 while also attending the Rugby World Cup final in Paris last year.
The fight is set to take place in Perth just a day after the Springboks tackle the Wallabies in the same city in a series of events he described as “the stars aligning” in his interview on KFM radio.
Speaking to host Darren Simpson he outlined the plans to have the two Springbok greats alongside him as he enters the octagon.
“We’re busy with that, getting Eben and Siya to walk out with us. It looks like it’s basically going to be a done deal,” Du Plessis told KFM.
“We are going to have them walk out with me. They won’t be sitting in the corner, but they will be walking with me to the Octagon, which is pretty special.”
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Important to the country
Du Plessis underlined the importance of the Springboks to him and the whole country inspiring him ahead of his highly-anticipated bout.
“The Boks are playing, they are the pride of South Africa, and then I’m fighting, all on the same weekend. Talk about stars aligning,” Du Plessis added.
“Once I put that South African flag around my shoulders, there is nothing in the world that can stop me. He can knock me down, but he won’t knock me out and he won’t keep me down.”
