Dricus du Plessis sparks controversy by wearing a “Trump prefers champions” shirt, dividing South Africans ahead of his UFC title fight.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has found himself at the center of a heated debate after wearing a t-shirt that read “Trump prefers champions” at a press conference ahead of his fight against Sean Strickland.
While some fans brushed it off as mind games or personal expression, many South Africans saw it as a divisive political statement, reigniting tensions surrounding former U.S. President Donald Trump’s past remarks about South Africa.
The timing of du Plessis’ fashion choice could not have been more controversial. Just as diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the U.S. resurface—fueled by ongoing debates over the Land Expropriation bill and tech billionaire Elon Musk’s involvement—du Plessis seemingly aligned himself with one of the most polarizing figures in global politics.
As soon as images of the South African fighter’s t-shirt hit social media, backlash poured in. The reactions ranged from frustration to outright disappointment, with many questioning whether du Plessis was aware of the message he was sending.
Comments on IOL News’ Facebook post about the incident numbered in the hundreds within hours, and the tone was overwhelmingly critical.
“Talk about tone deaf. Wow,” wrote one user, summing up the disbelief that many felt. Another commented, “What a disappointing statement,” while others were more direct: “Birds of a feather flock together.”
For some, du Plessis’ choice of attire was seen as a betrayal. “We are all disappointed considering the support we gave this guy,” wrote one fan, referencing how many South Africans had rallied behind him as he rose through the UFC ranks.
Another warned that he would face backlash: “The champ is more of a politician than an athlete … He will feel it soon when South Africans attack him.”
The controversy also brought up past statements made by du Plessis, including his previous claims about white farmers being killed in South Africa—comments that had already divided opinions on his stance.
One fan even went as far as to say, “I hope Strickland dog walks him,” showing how the fighter’s political alignment was influencing the way people viewed his upcoming bout.
Not everyone, however, was quick to condemn du Plessis. Some argued that his shirt was being overanalyzed. “How about just leaving people to have their own political views? I don’t know who’s worse, the left or the right,” one user commented, suggesting that the reaction was overly emotional.
Another pointed out that the UFC has long been a space where fighters can express their views freely, without fear of cancellation, saying, “He’s giving a shoutout to Musk because he is South African and Trump because the UFC, as everyone knows, would not exist if it wasn’t for him.”
A few fans even speculated that the shirt was less about politics and more about getting inside Strickland’s head.
“Maybe people are reading too much into the shirt and he is actually trolling Strickland, implying that he is a loser so Trump won’t support him,” suggested one fan, offering a different perspective.
Regardless of whether the shirt was meant as a political statement or a strategic distraction, one thing is clear—du Plessis’ choice has struck a nerve.
With his title defense just around the corner, the South African fighter now faces not just a battle inside the octagon, but also a public relations fight outside of it.
The question remains: Will this controversy affect his support back home, or will it blow over as just another pre-fight stunt? Only time will tell.
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