Dricus du Plessis gives four-word reaction to Islam Makhachev comparison over unique UFC record
It looks like Islam Makhachev and Dricus du Plessis are opposites when it comes to one aspect of MMA, absorbing strikes. When a fight fan pointed out the vast difference in strikes absorbed per minute by the two men, the quick-witted South African hit back with a hilarious reply.
Makhachev, primarily a wrestler, is largely successful in using his unparalleled grappling skills to deny his opponents opportunities to engage in prolonged striking battles. Per the stats posted by @standemup on Instagram, the lightweight champion has only absorbed 1.54 strikes per minute in his UFC career.
On the other hand, Du Plessis never shies away from slug fests. His bouts are often high-activity striking battles resulting in him absorbing 4.85 strikes per minute during his time in the world's premier MMA promotion.
This makes du Plessis the UFC champion with the most strikes absorbed per minute and Makhachev the one who has absorbed the least. When the netizen pointed out this unique stat, 'Stillknocks' clapped back with a light-hearted retort on his Instagram story, writing:
"I win at everything."
Regardless of his tendency to get hit a lot, the 30-year-old is flying high in his MMA career. In his last outing, 'Stillknocks' clinched perhaps the greatest win of his career as he submitted former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.
Watch Dricus du Plessis submit Israel Adesanya below:
Similarly, the Dagestani is also on a dream run in the promotion. He was last seen in a fifth-round submission win over former Interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June.
When Dricus du Plessis explained his coach's unique training method
Despite getting hit more than any other current UFC champion, Dricus du Plessis is the undisputed king of middleweights. His coach uses awfully painful methods to seal any holes in his game.
The middleweight kingpin's head coach Morne Visser uses a cattle prod taser to punish him when he repeatedly commits mistakes during training. During the pre-fight press conference for UFC 305, du Plessis said:
"He tells you, 'Dricus, your hand, it's not high enough. You are not covering your face...' Or he'll say, 'Your foot is not in the right spot... your base is not right, you're too far leaning back.' You know whatever, [the] chin is in the air, whatever it may be. He'll warn you, and he'll warn you again, and on the third time he is like, 'Okay I've warned you twice about this, on your stomach.' And you just lie down, tases right under the foot and there you go."
Catch Dricus du Plessis' comments below (2:03):