The hype around the fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 is pretty high. Despite the heated insults flying around from either side, the media day witnessed Du Plessis getting emotional about one of his teammates. Needless to say, getting to the top in one of the most prestigious MMA promotions in the world is not a path that a fighter can tread alone. And the UFC middleweight champion was thankful for the ones present in his corner. 

However, Du Plessis’ love for his teammates splashed out when he talked about one of his friends who had experienced multiple close calls to death. Let’s see what the South African champ had to say.

Dricus Du Plessis opens up about his teammate with numerous near-death experiences

At the media day for UFC 305, one of the reporters asked ‘Stillknocks’ about his friend, who survived a stroke, a ruptured spleen, and a gunshot to the head. Without a doubt, any one of these could steal one’s life within moments. But having survived all of these, made him a man that made Du Plessis proud of having him in his corner. 

The South African mixed martial artist said, “That is correct. The man is my corner, one of my best friends. Etienne is a legend in South African rugby. Played professional rugby in all over the world. And exactly like you said, the man has had multiple strokes, got shot in the head. Had a crazy, crazy story…” He is indeed one of the few who trained with Du Plessis. However, the rugby star had to move to the US. But that didn’t put a crack in their friendship. ‘Stillknocks’ claimed that Etienne Reynecke was there for him at each of his fights. And one can expect him to be there at UFC 305. 

The South African fighter then revealed that it was nothing short of a motivation. After all, with so many near-death experiences, people develop a perspective of life that makes them appreciate it even more. DDP said, “You think to win a fight is motivation. Look at that man. Look at… that’s only motivating to have someone like that around you that appreciates life for what it is. Being that close to death that many times, and just shows appreciation and love for everything around him. It’s amazing to have someone like that in your circle because they have such a big perception of what life is really about.”

Having such a friend in one’s circle indeed acts as a motivational tool to appreciate life and look at the way of living from a whole new perspective, don’t you think? But even then, a former UFC fighter believed Du Plessis would be the one on the losing side.

UFC veteran predicts the outcome of Du Plessis vs. Adesanya

As the ‘real African’ debate found traction on the internet, the entire fighting verse began speculating the outcome of the headliner fight at UFC 305. And Chael Sonnen was one of them. ‘The American Gangster’ took to his talk show and pointed out how ‘Stillknocks’ was more experienced in the art of grappling than his opponent. But that wouldn’t help him take Adesanya down. It was all because of one single aspect in the former champion’s style – Adesanya never quits!

Sonnen claimed, “I don’t believe that Dricus can go ground and pound him. I don’t believe he can take Izzy down easier than Gastelum, easier than Yoel Romero, easier than Brunson. I think he’s going to have to fight and Dricus goes straight for it and he wears guys down. He makes them quit. And that’s the one thing about Izzy I cannot say, no matter how bad of a performance I’ve seen from him, I’ve never seen that man quit.”

Nevertheless, with his close friend in his corner, Du Plessis dives in with nothing but confidence for his fight at UFC 305. Will his friend’s well wishes work this time? That’s something that only time can tell.  

What do you think of the struggles that Du Plessis’ teammate went through? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.