Du Plessis’s UFC defeat sparks mixed emotions while some mourn a fallen champion, many South Africans see it as justice after his divisive remarks.
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| Dricus du Plessis falls to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 a loss many South Africans are celebrating after his controversial remarks on race and politicsUFC/YouTube/Fair use |
The UFC 319 main event in Chicago was billed as a clash of styles: South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis, the reigning middleweight champion known for his grit and awkward but effective striking, versus Khamzat Chimaev, the relentless Chechen-Swedish grappler nicknamed “Borz.”
From the opening bell, it was clear the fight would be one-sided. Chimaev imposed his wrestling and grappling at will, controlling the pace and positioning with suffocating pressure. He logged nearly 22 minutes of control time, landed an astonishing 529 total strikes, and secured 12 takedowns. Du Plessis, normally a durable brawler, could muster only 45 strikes across the entire five rounds. All three judges scored it 50–44, a lopsided unanimous decision that ended Du Plessis’s short reign as middleweight champion.
The result was historic: Chimaev set a new UFC record for the most strikes landed in a single fight and claimed his first world title. For Du Plessis, the defeat was devastating professionally but back home in South Africa, the reaction was more complicated.
The Champion Who Divided His Country
Dricus du Plessis rose to fame as South Africa’s most successful UFC fighter. For many, his climb to the top was a source of national pride proof that South African athletes could compete and win on the global stage. But his public image began to shift after a series of comments and gestures that many South Africans felt crossed the line.
He repeatedly invoked the debunked narrative of a “white genocide” in South Africa, claiming white people were being systematically targeted and eradicated. The claim has long been used by far-right groups both locally and abroad to stoke fear and racial division, and Du Plessis repeating it on a global stage struck many as irresponsible and harmful.
On top of that, Du Plessis openly courted controversy by wearing a Donald Trump T-shirt and posting online that “champions love Trump.” While some supporters saw this as harmless self-expression, many others viewed it as tone-deaf and divisive. For South Africans struggling with issues of inequality, unemployment, and racial reconciliation, Du Plessis aligning himself with a polarizing U.S. politician and echoing far-right talking points felt like a betrayal.
What could have been the story of a unifying national champion instead became a story of a fighter who alienated much of his own country.
Why South Africans Celebrated His Defeat
The celebrations that followed Du Plessis’s loss to Chimaev weren’t about wishing failure on a South African athlete for the sake of rivalry. They were rooted in frustration with what he had come to represent.
For many, his defeat symbolized a rejection of racist rhetoric. By amplifying the “white genocide” narrative, Du Plessis gave credence to a conspiracy theory that dismisses the lived realities of Black South Africans while portraying whites as uniquely victimized. Seeing him humbled in the octagon felt like poetic justice to those angered by his words.
Others celebrated out of embarrassment. Du Plessis’s comments had drawn international headlines, making South Africa appear as though its most prominent sporting ambassador endorsed extremist talking points. His loss, in this sense, provided relief: the man who had become a problematic face of the nation’s fighting spirit was no longer wearing the belt.
And for many South Africans, his embrace of Trump was simply the final straw. In a country where political struggles are rooted in its own history of apartheid and inequality, aligning with a figure associated with racial polarization abroad came across as out of touch. His defeat allowed critics to frame the outcome as karma: a man who tied his identity to divisive politics was humbled on the world’s biggest stage.
Respect in Defeat, but a Damaged Legacy
To his credit, Du Plessis was respectful after the loss. He praised Chimaev as “a blanket” who smothered him with skill, admitted he was outclassed, and vowed to come back stronger. His professionalism in the cage and sportsmanship in defeat won him plaudits from the MMA community.
But for many South Africans, those words could not erase the damage his earlier rhetoric had done. In a nation still grappling with racial wounds, public figures carry enormous responsibility in how they speak. Du Plessis’s choice to lean into conspiracy theories and divisive politics may have permanently altered how he is viewed at home.
Sport, Symbolism, and Justice
Sport often reflects more than competition it reflects society’s values, tensions, and struggles. Du Plessis’s loss wasn’t celebrated simply because a South African was beaten. It was celebrated because many felt his platform had been misused to spread division.
In that sense, UFC 319 was about more than a title fight. It was a moment where sport intersected with politics, identity, and national pride. Chimaev’s domination was undeniable but the meaning of Du Plessis’s defeat went far beyond the scorecards.
For his supporters, he remains a tough competitor who reached the pinnacle of his sport. But for his critics, UFC 319 will be remembered as the night South Africa’s most controversial champion was humbled and many will say it was justice served.
Watch my full breakdown of why South Africans are celebrating Du Plessis’s loss not just the score but the meaning behind it.👉 Here
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