Dricus du Plessis warns ‘I’m not here to be funny’
Dricus du Plessis says he isn’t going to get caught up in a circus ahead of his title bout against UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland
South African MMA star Dricus du Plessis says he isn’t going to get caught up in a media circus ahead of his title bout against UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland at the weekend.
Du Plessis doesn’t want to allow anything to distract him from his goal of taking the Middleweight crown.
NO MORE JOKES FROM DRICUS DU PLESSIS
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He would also not comment further on his mockery of Strickland’s public emotional outburst.
Dricus Du Plessis sees no reason to take more digs at Sean Strickland's personal history entering #UFC297 fight week.
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 15, 2024
"It's almost senseless to try to create more hype." pic.twitter.com/yLrapLTNvd
Speaking from Toronto Du Plessis said: “He cried on the world stage. I’m glad he got it out. I hope it’s over now. There’s not going to be one-ups. There’s no one-ups.
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“What’s going to happen is going to happen. We’ll see how it plays out, but right now my focus is on the fight.
“I’m not here to be funny. I’m not here to try and create something that there’s not. I’m here to be a professional. I’m here to be the next champion of the world.
“That’s why I’m here.”
IT’S BUSINESS TIME
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The former EFC champion says that the clash with Strickland is not personal but just business.
“I’m not here to try to one-up or get even further. I’m going to do what I’m going to do and he’s going to do what he’s going to do, but right now, it’s almost senseless to try to create more hype. The hype’s been created. That took care of itself. Right now, for me, this is business. The whole fight week is business. Everything I handle, I’ll handle it like business and Saturday night will be signing on the dotted line, closing the deal.”
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Du Plessis will challenge Strickland at the Scotiabank Arena In Toronto, Canada on Saturday 20 January 2024. South African viewers should note that the bout will be broadcast live in the early hours of Sunday morning.
UFC 297 will be broadcast on SuperSport and Du Plessis’ bout will be covered in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa on live commentary.