Outside Source
The former middleweight champion returns to action against ex-welterweight king Kamaru Usman in the UFC Oklahoma City main event on July 18, his first appearance since dropping the 185-pound championship to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 last year. The defeat snapped an eight-year unbeaten streak dating back to a knockout loss during his time on KSW.
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Dricus Du Plessis reflects on losing the UFC middleweight title and his return against Kamaru Usman
Ahead of his return to the Octagon nearly a year after his loss to Chimaev, du Plessis has opened up about losing his middleweight crown, revealing initial disappointment followed by a surge of motivation to regain the title.
“Yeah, so I haven’t lost in quite some time — eight years — and I kind of forgot how it felt,” du Plessis said in a recent interview. “Now, I know exactly why. I absolutely hate it. I hate losing; I hate not being a champion. I’m a guy that’s the best in the world — I deserve a title. I have to have that title. When I lost it, it made me realize why I wanted to become champion in the first place and why I will do it again.”
“Stillknocks” further admitted that the effects of the defeat lingered well after the fight, but believes that’s part of being a champion.
“Dealing with that loss, it stung for quite a while,” he added. “It stung for a month after that fight. And if it didn’t sting like that, it would have been a problem — it means I didn’t appreciate it. I’m a terrible loser, and I’ll prove that on Saturday.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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