UFC is set to return to Perth, Australia, with the highly anticipated UFC 305 card, marking the first event in the city since UFC 284. The card is headlined by current middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who will defend his title for the first time against Israel Adesanya. This upcoming fight, however, will be extra special, as Du Plessis won’t walk alone. He’ll be joined by members of South Africa’s national rugby team, the Springboks’ two athletes, for his unique walkout.

Dricus Du Plessis recently revealed on Cape Town’s KFM Mornings radio, as reported by si.com, that the Springboks rugby team will be in attendance at his UFC 305 title defense in Perth. With the Rugby Championship underway in Australia, the four-time Rugby World Cup winners will be there to support him right after their match against the host nation.

Looking forward to the event, Du Plessis excitedly shared, “I’m fighting on Sunday. The Boks are playing on Saturday. So all of them are gonna be at the fight; they’re gonna come and watch the fight. The Boks are gonna be there. It’s going to be awesome.” It’s no secret that Du Plessis is a big fan of rugby. After all, besides martial arts, he played the sport throughout his schooling years. And considering he’s a staunch supporter of the Springboks, having them by his side would probably give him that much more motivation to defend his crown.

While the entire team will be inside the stadium, only two players will be alongside him as Dricus du Plessis walks out to his trusted heavy metal anthem, ‘Live It Up’ by Airbourne. Hinting at an unforgettable walkout, the UFC champion revealed, “We’ve been busy with that, getting Eben [Etzebeth] and Siya [Kolisi] to walk out with us… We’re gonna have them walk out with me. They won’t be sitting in the corner, but they’ll be walking with me to the Octagon, which is pretty special.”

The Springboks, led by star player Eben Etzebeth and captain Siya Kolisi, currently top the 13th Rugby Championship after a thrilling win over Australia. This Saturday, Australia seeks revenge to stay competitive in the tournament. And as the Springboks look to continue their winning streak, so does Dricus du Plessis, especially considering what’s on the line. And the fact that he made Israel Adesanya cry during the final press conference before their bout, following which the Nigerian-New Zealand fighter vowed to “kill [Du Plessis’] dreams.”

In a heated exchange about culture, Du Plessis’ alleged lack of respect for Adesanya’s custom struck a nerve. When someone asked the two-time champion about the tension between him and the South African, Adesanya said, “He touched a subject there because I do this for the family, I do this for the people I love, and I will fight for you forever.” Then, with tears streaming down his face, he continued, “I am a f***ing human being. I am a man, I can cry and whoop your a** at the same time.” 

Explaining how his dreams came true the first time he fought in Perth – back in February 2018 at UFC 221 – Adesanya told Dricus, “Sunday, I’m going to f***ing kill your dreams. I’m going to kill your dreams.” As for the South African, driven by national pride, he will hope to defend his UFC title. Du Plessis declared his fight a tribute to South Africa, a sentiment fueled by Dana White’s promises of a massive UFC event there.

Dana White’s assurance to Dricus Du Plessis

Earlier this year, Dricus Du Plessis made history by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and becoming the first South African to win the UFC title. Since then, his achievement has sparked controversy, with critics questioning his status as a true African UFC champion. This controversy was recently reignited by Israel Adesanya, who aims to mentally attack Du Plessis.

Du Plessis, meanwhile, is determined to silence Adesanya and has been given additional motivation by Dana White, who emphasized the high stakes in the pre-fight press conference. White stated, “Everything is on the line, especially because they dislike each other so much. If he can beat Izzy and bring that belt back to South Africa, obviously, we’ll do an event there. If Izzy can regain the title, it’s huge for him and his legacy.”

As the fight approaches, it will be intriguing to see a UFC fighter and two rugby champions walk out together side by side at RAC Arena, Perth, this Saturday. The Springboks team members recently confirmed this rare spectacle of two sports athletes sharing the same world stage. What are your thoughts about the same? Let us know in the comments below.