Being tased made me UFC world champion – Du Plessis

This article contains descriptions of violent activity which could be imitated

Dricus du Plessis is nonchalant but firm when asked if he has been punished with a Taser-like implement during his training camp before facing Khamzat Chimaev.

“Absolutely, multiple times,” the South African tells BBC Sport. “I get tased every fight camp.

“That’s how it is. If you make mistakes constantly – if you repeatedly make the same mistake – you’re getting tased, and that’s it.”

It was revealed last year that Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser uses the Taser-like tool on the fighters he trains as punishment for mistakes they make in the gym.

Footage showed Du Plessis lying face down on his stomach, with Visser tasing the soles of his feet.

It is an unorthodox and controversial training method – and potentially very dangerous – but Du Plessis credits it with helping him become a UFC champion.

On Saturday, the 31-year-old will make the third defence of his middleweight title against Russia’s Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago, Illinois.

“I always say this – I’m South African and we are built different. We do whatever it takes to become a champion and this is my coach’s method,” says Du Plessis.

“Do I like it? No. But that’s his method and if I don’t like it I can leave that gym any time.

“Did it make me a world champion? Yes, it did. You can’t expect different results doing the same thing as everybody else, it’s not going to work.”

Du Plessis gives a wry smile before taking a sip of his drink after revealing what it feels like to be tased.

It is legal to own and carry a Taser in South Africa for self-defence purposes.

In some ways, Du Plessis’ training methods mirror his fighting style, with the South African questioned throughout his UFC career for an unconventional approach.

He is known for blitzing forward and looping punches in a manner which appears reckless, but one which works to devastating effect.

Du Plessis is on a nine-fight winning streak at middleweight – the current longest in the division – and returning to the octagon six months after outpointing Sean Strickland.

In his past four fights, he has two wins over Strickland and has stopped Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker – all of whom are former UFC champions.

Du Plessis says his record speaks for itself.

“Since the day I started doing this I didn’t care about money, I didn’t care about fame. I just wanted to be the greatest that has ever done it,” he explains.

In 31-year-old Chimaev, Du Plessis is facing one of the UFC’s most exciting talents and long predicted to become a champion.

He is unbeaten, winning the first 14 fights of his career, but his momentum in the UFC has been stifled over the past two years.

Chimaev fought just once in 2023 and once again in 2024 after illness and injuries led to a number of cancelled fights.

He also suffered visa issues, due to his ties to controversial Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, which prevented him from fighting in the United States.

Chimaev returns to America for the first time since 2022 to face Du Plessis with the Russian crediting president Donald Trump for securing his visa.

But Du Plessis’ confidence is unwavering as he predicts a 24th win in 26 bouts.

“If I go 100%, my opponent has to go 100% or I will finish you,” he says.