The UFC community is buzzing with controversy after middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis posted a promotional video for Crypto.com’s AFL Tip the Talent Challenge. What should have been a routine sponsorship announcement has instead sparked fierce debate among fans who see striking parallels between du Plessis and his recent opponent Khamzat Chimaev’s questionable cryptocurrency ventures.
In the video, du Plessis delivers his predictions for the AFL preliminary finals with noticeably poor audio quality that fans have criticized as “borderline criminal.” The South African champion tips the Brisbane Lions over Collingwood Magpies, citing his homeland connection, and backs Geelong Cats against Hawthorne in what he describes as a close contest.
“What’s up legends? The Crypto.com and AFL Tip the Talent Challenge is now live,” du Plessis announces in the clip, concluding with the company’s signature tagline: “And remember, fortune favours the brave.”
The promotional post has ignited a firestorm on social media, with fans drawing uncomfortable comparisons to Chimaev’s recent involvement with the “Smash” cryptocurrency token. Many supporters feel betrayed seeing their champion follow a similar path to monetization that has become increasingly controversial in combat sports.
One frustrated fan captured the sentiment perfectly: “This just shows how far crypto.com has fallen. Khamzat beat him up so bad he’s copying his crypto scam as well.”
The timing couldn’t be worse for du Plessis, who recently suffered a submission loss to Chimaev at UFC 308. Fans have seized on this connection, suggesting the defeat has influenced the champion’s decision-making.
“It’s part of Khamzat training camp. DDP is simply following the footsteps for a rematch,” one observer noted sarcastically.
Despite earning an estimated $3.8 million for his last title defense, du Plessis has still chosen to partner with crypto companies, leading many to question whether financial necessity or simple greed drives these decisions.
“Damn… I don’t understand why fighters do this,” wrote one disappointed supporter. “Surely there are other companies that want to endorse him and give him money that actually give their customers/investors something and don’t just scam, right?”
Others defended the business reality facing professional athletes. The cryptocurrency and gambling industries offer substantially higher endorsement fees compared to traditional sponsors, making them attractive despite reputational risks. As one pragmatic fan noted: “Crypto and gambling sites pay insane amounts for endorsements compared to less controversial sponsorships.”
The controversy has elevated Sean Strickland’s standing among fans, with many ironically praising the former champion’s refusal to engage with similar promotional opportunities. “Sean Strickland the last bastion of morality in the middleweight division, who’d have thunk?” one fan remarked.
Industry observers point out that Crypto.com remains an official UFC sponsor, making du Plessis’s involvement less egregious than independent cryptocurrency ventures. However, the optics remain problematic for a champion already facing criticism following his recent loss.
