SA UFC star Dricus du Plessis. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
- South Africa’s UFC champion Dricus du Plessis has revealed that Springboks Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth will escort him to the ring in Perth on Sunday.
- Du Plessis will take on New Zealand’s Israel Adesanya on Sunday morning (SA time).
- Du Plessis won the UFC middleweight crown in January when he upset American Sean Strickland.
- For more sports news, visit the News24 Sport home page.
South African UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis says he will be escorted by Springbok rugby stars Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth ahead of his title fight against New Zealand’s Israel Adesanya in Perth on Sunday.
Du Plessis will defend his middleweight crown at the RAC Arena in Perth. Du Plessis won the UFC middleweight title when he upset American Sean Strickland in January.
The fight, which will be the main event of UFC 305, is scheduled for 06:30 (SA time) on Sunday morning.
The Springboks are also in the Western Australian capital where they will tackle the Wallabies in a Rugby Championship Test on Saturday 11:45 (SA time).
In an interview with KFM radio station on Tuesday, Du Plessis said plans were in place for the Bok duo to be by his side when he walks down to 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 breakfast show host Darren Simpson.
“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.
“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.
Du Plessis, 30, is an avid rugby fan and attended last year’s World Cup final between the Springboks and All Blacks in Paris. He also displayed his belt ahead of South Africa’s first Test against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld in July.
Adesanya and Du Plessis were initially expected to fight last September, but the South African pulled out due to a foot injury.
The Nigerian-born fighter instead went on to fight Strickland, and in one of the biggest upsets, Adesanya lost his middleweight title by an unanimous decision last September in Sydney.
Adesanya hasn’t fought since the decision loss to Strickland.
Listen to Dricus du Plessis’ full interview with KFM