Dricus du Plessis has broken his silence since losing the middleweight belt at UFC 319.
Khamzat Chimaev dominated all five rounds to put an end to Du Plessis’ reign. Following that, the South African fighter has kept a low profile, which is unusual for him.
He has now put out a lengthy statement, saying he is ‘not a good loser’ and promising to come back stronger. But after Chimaev’s decisive win, it does not look like the promotion is in any rush to book a rematch.
Dricus du Plessis breaks silence after UFC 319 loss
Following his defeat, Du Plessis chose to stay quiet, apart from a brief chat with Joe Rogan inside the octagon.
His coach Morne Visser has spoken out since then, and now, over a week later, ‘Stillknocks’ has shared a more detailed message.
Du Plessis made a post on his Instagram saying: “It’s been just over a week and I have spent some time with my family and friends, those closest to me who will be with me win or lose.
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“I embrace this loss with open arms because believe me as much as I hate losing it’s as much part of life as part of our game – and I believe it’s necessary in my pursuit of greatness. ‘Without the bitter, the sweet wouldn’t be as sweet.’
“Make no mistake I’m not a good loser because a good loser becomes a frequent one. I am however- an avid learner of the arts and of life itself.
“This loss has exploded a desire in me that will have the consequence of an onslaught bigger than the original domination – my return to glory and pursuit of greatness will be unimaginable for the average minded.”
Du Plessis accepts defeat, praises Chimaev after UFC 319 loss
Despite admitting he does not take losses well, Du Plessis did not try to hide from this one. He accepted the result without any excuses and congratulated Chimaev, who faced some criticism for not pushing harder for a finish.
“I have absolutely no excuses for my performance. I was beaten by a better fighter on the night, congratulations to my opponent and thank you for the honour of sharing the octagon with you,” he wrote.
The South African star also took a moment to thank his supporters, as well as those who doubted him, adding:
“Thank you for all the love and support from fans all over the world, and my sponsors that has always and will in the future play a critical role in my success. And sincerely thank you to all those who enjoyed seeing me fall because I will return the favour, like I always have.”
“I believe in the plan of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for He knows best and I can’t wait to see what He has planned for me going forward.”
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