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 My Newspaper 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 feels absolutely terrible,” he says. “It’s like touching an electric fence – you just know it’s going to be terrible. But it does make that mental note stick.”
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 octagonsix 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.
“The people that do doubt, what do they know about fighting? Where’s their world title?”
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 Russiancrediting 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.
“Which means we are going to a place of who has the biggest heart and who is not willing to give up, and that fight I win, 10 times out of 10.”
