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Stream UFC 319 on ESPN+ https://plus.espn.com/ufc/ppv
Charly Arnolt interviews middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis about the reaction he’s received from fans during fight week as he looks to defend his belt against Khamzat Chimaev.
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Video Transcript
Champ, hostile territory out there. What
do you think about the reaction you got
from the crowd, not just today, but also
during the press conference this week?
I mean, every any territory is hostile
territory from here. I'm fighting out of
South Africa everywhere I go. I mean,
we've seen this every single time. They
boo in the beginning, but they cheer in
the end because that's what happens when
you win and you become a champion.
Absolutely. And I think people really,
they could not ask for a better matchup.
This is a long time coming. You've been
calling out Hamzat since UFC 305. What's
it like to finally have this fight
materialize and be just hours away from
occurring?
Yeah, I think uh that's perfect. You
have the two best guys, truly best
fighters in the world going up against
each other. And that's why people are so
excited for for for this fight. And they
know what it's going to be. They know
when I go out there, it's electric. It's
fireworks. And they know when he goes
out there for one round, it's one hell
of a fight.
And we know what you bring to the table.
You always dominate against the best in
their specific fields. You talk about
best boxing, that would be Sean
Strickland. Talk about best striking is
I is Izzy Adosnagna now with grappling
Hamzach Chimayv. So how did your
preparation differ knowing you're taking
on now another best in their specific
element in field?
Listen in this sport I believe you have
to be able to match somebody anywhere
especially where they are good and then
you have to go out and follow your plan
and do what you do and that's what I've
been doing. uh match them on on where
they are good, where they are the
leaders or where they have had the most
success and then do what you need to do
and that's exactly what I plan on doing
tomorrow. I am not scared to go to the
ground. I know the fight is going to end
up on the ground at some stage. I am not
scared of that. I embrace that. In fact,
I welcome that. And then it's, you know,
if we get back to the striking, then he
has to deal with me. And then
when is this? We've seen we haven't seen
this man on his back, especially not
with me on top of him.
Okay, so tell me, you go out, you do
your thing, you're successful. What does
a win mean for you? What will you prove
with a victory?
Well, I'll just prove once again that
I'm the best middleweight in the world.
100% exactly the same as the previous
one and exactly the same as the next
one.
Amazing. Well, best of luck to you and
thank you so much for your time.
Thank you so much.
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