Financial, venue issues KO's plans for Dricus du Plessis' title defence on SA soil
Dricus du Plessis Khamzat Chimaev will challenge Dricus du Plessis (above) for the middleweight title in the main event of UFC 319 on August 16 in Chicago. Photo: AFP
In a bittersweet turn of events for local fight fans, Dricus du Plessis, the reigning UFC world middleweight champion, has failed in his quest to defend his title on home soil.
During a candid podcast discussion, Du Plessis, who has emerged as a formidable force in the UFC, detailed the challenges currently stymying his wish.
Financial constraints and suitability issues surrounding potential venues that are compliant with UFC standards posed massive problems.
With a potent mix of skill and charisma inside the octagon, Du Plessis has rapidly gained traction in the UFC, capturing the hearts of fans worldwide.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


eNCA
4 hours ago
- eNCA
Olympic balloon to rise again in Paris
PARIS - A giant balloon that became a popular landmark over the skies of Paris during the 2024 Olympics is set to rise again, with organisers hoping it will once again attract crowds of tourists. During the Games, the Olympic cauldron tethered to a balloon flew above the Tuileries garden at sunset every day, with thousands flocking to see the seven-metre wide ring of electric fire. Last summer's version "had been thought up to last for the length of the Olympic and Paralympic Games," said Mathieu Lehanneur, the designer of the cauldron. After President Emmanuel Macron "decided to bring it back, all of the technical aspects needed to be reviewed", he told AFP on Thursday. Lehanneur said he was "very moved" that the Olympic balloon was making a comeback. "The worst thing would have been for this memory to become a sitting relic that couldn't fly anymore," he said. The balloon will rise into the air every evening until September 14 -- a summer tradition set to return every year until the 2028 Los Angeles Games. "For its revival, we needed to make sure it changed as little as possible and that everything that did change was not visible," said Lehanneur. With a decarbonated fire patented by French energy giant EDF, the upgraded balloon follows "the same technical principles" as its previous version, said director of innovation at EDF Julien Villeret. The improved attraction "will last ten times longer" and be able to function for "300 days instead of 30", according to Villeret.

IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Andy Farrell vows British & Irish Lions will face harsh truths after Argentina defeat
CELEBRATION Argentina's Simon Benitez Cruz (2L) celebrates following the warm-up International rugby union match between The British and Irish Lions and Argentina at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on June 20, 2025 Picture: Paul Faith/AFP Image: Paul Faith/AFP Andy Farrell insisted he would demand an improved performance from his British and Irish Lions when they arrive in Australia after their 28-24 defeat by Argentina in Dublin. The Lions lost after their second-half fightback on Friday was cut short by Santiago Cordero's match-winning try for the Pumas in the 59th minute. Farrell's squad, comprised of leading players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, travel to Australia on Saturday before facing the Perth-based Western Force a week later in the first of several warm-up games ahead of a three-Test series with the Wallabies. Argentina, ranked fifth in the world, had already defeated France, New Zealand, Australia and world champions South Africa in the past 12 months, with the Pumas tough opponents for a 'scratch' Lions side playing their first match of the tour. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Lions Head Coach Farrell Reflects on Error-Strewn Performance Against Argentina But Lions head coach Farrell, seconded to the combined side from his 'day job' as Ireland boss, refused to cite a lack of cohesion as the reason for his side's error-strewn display in front of a sold-out Aviva Stadium. 'We made it a tough game,' he said. 'Congratulations to Argentina, they thoroughly deserved to win the match. I'm sure that's a big moment in Argentinean rugby history. 'We had plenty of opportunities and we should have done better to convert them, but the whole story of the game is that we compounded too many errors.' The former England international added: 'I wouldn't give familiarity as an excuse. We need to be better than that. The Lions are good players coming together. 'We won't sugar-coat this. We need to be honest because if we're not honest, how do we gain trust with each other? 'Losing hurts, especially in this jersey. We need to find the solutions pretty quickly and be honest with ourselves because some good has to come from this.'


The South African
a day ago
- The South African
Sinner the singer: Tennis star releases duet with Andrea Bocelli
Tennis star Jannik Sinner has turned his hand to music, releasing a duet with the renowned Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The song, 'Polvere e Gloria' (Dust And Glory), features three-time Grand Slam champion Sinner, not singing but repeating parts of his winning and losing speeches, which he recorded at Bocelli's studio in Tuscany. 'I am very happy and honoured to be part of this project with Andrea, who for 30 years has been a unique and extraordinary voice, a flag for our country in the rest of the world,' said world number one Sinner. 'I could never have imagined hearing my voice in one of his songs. It's extremely moving.' Jannik Sinner won the US Open in 2024 and the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025, among 19 ATP titles. He finished runner-up in the French Open on clay at Roland Garros this month. The track features both Italian and English lyrics. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Image: Javier TORRES / AFP/File The accompanying video shows Sinner and Bocelli, two of the most famous Italians in the world, in a bucolic countryside setting, seated at a piano. The video features personal and archive images from the duo's childhoods, along with scenes filmed as they collaborated at Bocelli's estate. While Andrea Bocelli, 66, has performed at major events including the Olympic Games and the World Cup, Sinner is the first Italian to top either the men's or women's singles world rankings in tennis. His image as a national hero in Italy, however, was tarnished by a high-profile doping scandal involving accidental contamination, which, after a lengthy series of events, earned him a three-month suspension between February and May. Since his return, Sinner, 23, has reached the finals of the Masters 1000 in Rome and the French Open, losing both times to his great rival Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. On Thursday, he was defeated in the second round of the grass-court tournament in Halle, Germany, by Kazakh Alexander Bublik, ranked 45th in the world. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse