A young fan from South Africa asked Dricus Du Plessis for advice during a fan Q&A session. The fan wanted to start MMA but their parents would not allow it and wanted to know how to convince them and which base of martial arts to start with.
Du Plessis had a playful answer ready. He said, “If you’re going to show them a decent match, like a proper, show them me and Khamzat Chimaev. They’ll let you compete immediately.”
The former UFC middleweight champion doubled down on the joke, pointing out how tame the fight turned out to be.
“That’s boring as h3ll. People will think that. Like even Taekwondo is more violent than that. People will go straight, oh, no. These parents will be like, oh, this is nothing. Let him fig ht,” he said.
Du Plessis then delivered the punchline: “Yeah, let them watch the Khamzat match. If they don’t fall asleep, then he’s not allowed.”
The match in question, which took place at UFC 319, saw Khamzat submit Du Plessis in the later rounds after a grueling contest that saw extended stretches of grappling with limited striking exchanges.
On a serious note, Du Plessis offered genuine advice for the young South African. He recommended starting with wrestling, grappling, or jiu-jitsu rather than less practical disciplines.
“Get into wrestling. It’s an amazing sport. Get into grappling, get into jiu-jitsu. I’ve seen the difference and I’ve seen the changes it makes in people,” he said.
He also stressed the broader benefits of martial arts training for young people. He said, “Any martial art, it’s incredible. It’s incredible for any kids for confidence. If you’re a bully, if you’re being bullied, it just goes all the way. Learning discipline. I know what this sport did for me. I know how this sport changed my life. And I do believe this sport can do that for anybody.”
