Everyone has favorite fighters they like to watch, or that they relate to for whatever reason. Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is no different.
During a recent fan question and answer session, Du Plessis was asked which fighters he admired and why. “Stillknocks” listed mostly retired fighters but there was one active UFC roster member that made the list.
“There’s a lot of reasons for a lot of guys,” Du Plessis told Fight Forecast. “There’s guys like Jose Aldo, who has been my favorite fighter when I started getting into that sport alongside Anderson Silva, just because he was my weight and how incredible he was.
“But a guy like Aldo, you know, being so dominant for so long, taking that loss to Conor [McGregor], which was obviously devastating. I mean it was 13-second KO for the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world,” Du Plessis continued.
“Then almost steps away a little, comes back at his age, changes weights at that age, and just puts on a tear. Doesn’t become champion but still in that conversation. It’s very admirable.”
While it was Aldo’s longevity and tenacity that stood out to Du Plessis, he admired one for their fighting style, and he headlines the UFC Freedom 250 fight card at the White House in June.
“When it comes to fighting styles, a guy like [Justin] Gaethje. I love his fighting style. Just the way he goes out there caution to the wind,” Du Plessis said. “I feel like I do that as well because that’s what we’re in there for is to go and fight.
“A guy like Conor. Conor McGregor, say what you will about the guy, he’s been somebody that I’ve looked up to since I was a teenager. I mean, everybody, some people have their opinion. Without him, the sport wouldn’t be where it is today,” the South African said.
“He changed the whole game as one single guy. And everybody says you can’t be bigger than the sport. He was.”
