Dricus Du Plessis, the rising star of the UFC’s middleweight division, is no stranger to adversity. Inside the Octagon, he’s a relentless force, but outside of it, he has faced a different kind of battle—one against crime in his home country of South Africa. Like many South Africans, Du Plessis has personally experienced the rampant theft and security issues that plague the nation. In fact, as per ‘World Population Review’, the country has the fifth-highest crime rate in the world. No wonder the UFC’s middleweight champion has some encounters growing up there.

In a new interview, he spoke about how crime is a constant concern, affecting not only the general population but even professional athletes like himself. Car theft, home burglaries, and violent muggings have become part of everyday life for many in the country, and Du Plessis has not been immune to these challenges. ‘Stillknocks’ shared the problems he faced during his time in South Africa. Overdogs Podcast took to their Instagram channel to share the conversation he had with Mike Perry.

The champion, while speaking to Perry, said, “You know, South Africa; as beautiful as it is, it’s public knowledge how crazy the situation is there. In terms of the crime, the murders, the gang activity. It’s unlike any place in the world. People getting shot for watches, cell phones, every day, all the time. Not only in certain areas, in all areas. It doesn’t matter if you are on the Beverly Hills of South Africa, you have to check yourself the whole time.”

“Growing up in that situation for us, it’s kind of normal. I mean my house got broken into growing up maybe in total 10 times. It’s about being vigilant. But you can’t live your whole life being ready to kill. And that switch you learn. I think that’s what we have, that switch can happen like this.” 

But that’s just one aspect of the country. Not all the memories of his homeland are that of violence and blood. Most of his days in South Africa looked like: Watching the sunrise while a rooster would crow somewhere nearby. That’s around the time Dricus Du Plessis’ day would begin because he had a lot to accomplish.

Dricus Du Plessis: The other memories from South Africa

Back in 2014, he told ‘Combat Press’, “I believe being raised in the ‘boer’ way which I was raised in—early mornings of hard work and a lot of physical work from a young age—has a huge contribution to my career today… That is my roots, and the farm will always be my end destination.”

“It will start at about 6-7 in the morning with routine activities like checking water, checking the pumps, getting the animals to the field, and then some days we will plant or harvest. Other days, we will put up or fix broken fences. Then making sure the food for all the animals are ready. Sometimes we will mix the food and then, when harvest and planting weeks come, it’s a day from morning to late night, and then its time for a nice, cooked farm meal [laughs].”

He would work on the farm and also compete professionally. Before he switched to MMA, DDP boasted an undefeated record in kickboxing.

Interesting Fact: Dricus Du Plessis is the first UFC champion from South Africa. In fact, the fighter is pushing for the promotion to hold an event in South Africa by late 2025.

“I won the K-1 South African title and the South African professional/amateur title,” he revealed in 2014. “I also won the K-1 world title in Slovakia in 2012. I have never lost a fight in my kickboxing career.” And it looks like he carried this forward to the UFC. While he has a 23-2 professional MMA record, he has not lost a single bout in the UFC.

Now as the middleweight champion, he will defend his title against former champion Sean Strickland at UFC 312 next. The pair first locked horns against each other at UFC 297, which ended in a controversy (a controversial split decision win). Many, including Strickland, felt he had done enough to win the fight, but the judges didn’t think so.

It will be interesting to see whether DDP successfully defends his title at UFC 312. What do you think?