Dricus Du Plessis claims he forgot what losing felt like before his first defeat in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The former middleweight champion returns to action against ex-welterweight king Kamaru Usman in the UFC Oklahoma City main event on July 18, his first appearance since dropping the 185-pound championship to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 last year. The defeat snapped an eight-year unbeaten streak dating back to a knockout loss during his time on KSW.
Dricus Du Plessis reflects on losing the UFC middleweight title and his return against Kamaru Usman
Ahead of his return to the Octagon nearly a year after his loss to Chimaev, du Plessis has opened up about losing his middleweight crown, revealing initial disappointment followed by a surge of motivation to regain the title.
“Yeah, so I haven’t lost in quite some time — eight years — and I kind of forgot how it felt,” du Plessis said in a recent interview. “Now, I know exactly why. I absolutely hate it. I hate losing; I hate not being a champion. I’m a guy that’s the best in the world — I deserve a title. I have to have that title. When I lost it, it made me realize why I wanted to become champion in the first place and why I will do it again.”
“Stillknocks” further admitted that the effects of the defeat lingered well after the fight, but believes that’s part of being a champion.
“Dealing with that loss, it stung for quite a while,” he added. “It stung for a month after that fight. And if it didn’t sting like that, it would have been a problem — it means I didn’t appreciate it. I’m a terrible loser, and I’ll prove that on Saturday.”
