Having all of this dialed in is essential while he tackles the extra fight week responsibilities that come with being a UFC champion.
“I get crazy OCD when I get closer to the fight,” Du Plessis said. “Get used to the hotel, get used to the bed, know where everything is that I need. It’s a perk of the job to see all these beautiful places while doing what I love. And I’m getting paid to do this.
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“I love to be the main attraction. I love to be ‘the guy,’ because that’s what it means to be champion, not only getting in there and fighting, it’s about what you’re doing outside of the Octagon, what you’re doing leading up because, whether you like it or not, it’s part of the job.”
Du Plessis captured UFC gold at the start of 2024, dethroning Sean Strickland at UFC 297. Later that year, he defended the title against one of the best middleweights of all time, Adesanya. Then he kicked off his 2025 campaign with an even more impressive showing in a rematch with Strickland. And while each fight adds to his experience under the brightest lights, the nerves never disappear. Every new opponent brings fresh dangers that keep his fire burning.