DuPlessis looking to become first African UFC champ

[HHJ]

Lol knowing people in 2023 he’s gonna get flak for this but he’s right and it is funny.

FUCK 2023! lol

 

[nostradumbass]

He's kind of right, but not on the "did those belts ever go to Africa". I think they all brought their belts while visiting, so technically they did, they just don't stay there.

The other guys are dual citizens at most, but that really only matters if someone is a racist trying to claim some genetic superiority. Otherwise the big "inspiration" from those guys is telling kids maybe one day they can be successful too if they get the fuck out of their country. Dricus is the only one who didn't have to leave to be successful.

 

[Iroh]

He should change his nickname to "Africanus"

And come out to Africa by Toto.

 

[europe1]

The voortrekkers are back to deciding whose African again!

But seriously though defining yourself by excluding others just isn't a vary valarous approach to take. You can talk about being African and bringing the belt back to Africa without exluding others of their Africaness.

 

[HHJ]

The voortrekkers are back to deciding whose African again!

But seriously though defining yourself by excluding others just isn't a vary valarous approach to take. You can talk about being African and bringing the belt back to Africa without exluding others of their Africaness.

I agree,but He's just trying to get people to listen. I dont think he was too abrasive about it so far.

 

[Feniamin]

Why tho, do you consider Jon Jones not American because he’s a black guy?

If we use this logic there has never been an American champ since no native guy ever won the title.

I think at least Hendricks and Garbrandt has some Native roots. And Penn has some Native Hawaiian heritage, no?

 

[blkmike817]

Usman is from Arlington Texas he went to Arlington Bowie High School

 

[JonJonesNeedle]

Reading what Dricus actually said, he makes a very valid point.

 

[GrantB13]

Sure, that's correct I suppose lol but the guys don't just cease to be African because they haven't lived there for a long time. Plus I just got a chuckle out of the white guy deciding they're no longer African.

They might not cease to be African in the technical sense but it’s always interesting when people proclaim African pride, Mexican pride, etc etc but leave and almost never come back. If these places are so great then why did they decide to leave for America or elsewhere and leave their old heritage behind? It’s like they want all the prestige of saying they’re from somewhere but don’t want that life and dipped out the first chance they got.

 

[MawrSeneca]

Awesome, so can we all unanimously agree then that Leon is more English than Bisping? I mean, Leon is a product of English MMA after all. Bisping spent the majority of his training in the States. In fact, when I think of English MMA I see Leon's black ass now. Am I doing it right guys???

Amazing rhetoric to stir up some controversy on Dricus' part but he's doing himself a disservice. You think Dalcha Lungiambula, Otman Azaitar, Marc Diakiese have MMA infrastructure in their respective African Countries? He's literally shitting on others for making it in a sport which they would have zero chance to get it in had they stayed in their countries. He could have repped SOUTH African MMA and left it at that.

 

[CerebralKnievel]

It's obviously a comment that is open to humorous observation (especially given that he's from South Africa in particular, and the history of violent racism and white supremecy there), but he's clearly just speaking from a sense of pride for his home and not making any kind of intentional racial statement.

Jon Jones is definitely an American champion.

Lyoto Machida was a Brazilian champion. (Actually, I believe he may have been training in California by that time....)

 

[Sweater of AV]

Nah, this can would be the first person who trains in Africa to win a belt though.

 

[Kryptt]

The Just Bleed God cares not where you are from...

 

[snaportap21]

tbf in the case of Frank I think there's more of a case than with Izzy and Kamaru who both moved as kids. Frank at least reached adulthood still living in Africa.

What do you mean at least? How could Francis be considered anything but African? He grew up working in salt mines. What a dumb thing for homeboy to say.

 

[EYEKICKFACES]

I think all Dricus means is that N'Gannou isn't a product of African MMA, he's obviously an African dude.

The Gen Z wants to act outraged and offended, let him be.

 

[13Seconds]

Why tho, do you consider Jon Jones not American because he’s a black guy?

If we use this logic there has never been an American champ since no native guy ever won the title.

You know what he means. Atleast if you know the tense history with blacks and whites in Africa. Not digging into that.

Either way, Dricus is right. It's still funny.

 

[Ornife]

Well, we're talking about the guy

 

[Jonny Ninja]

Lol there’s already been African champs, and he isn’t good enough to win the belt

 

[nostradumbass]

What do you mean at least? How could Francis be considered anything but African? He grew up working in salt mines. What a dumb thing for homeboy to say.

Because he doesn't live in Africa, his MMA career has nothing to do with Africa, and I believe he is a naturalized French citizen. The "at least" means he grew up there, while the others left as kids.

 

[Feniamin]

What do you mean at least? How could Francis be considered anything but African? He grew up working in salt mines. What a dumb thing for homeboy to say.

Look at fighters from ex-USSR
Kazakhstani in UFC - Ismagulov is from Russia, Rakhmonov was born and raised in Uzbekistan and lived there more than in Kazakhstan
Azerbaijani - Fiziev was born in Kazakhstan and lived in Kyrgyzstan since he was 7 (if I am not wrong), Sadykhov was born in Russia and his family moved from there to US where he resides
German Siver moved there from Russia when he was 17
Armenians - Petrosyan was born and raised in Russia, Tsarukyan born in Georgia raised in Russia tried to apply for Armenian citizenship and didn’t get it
Kutateladze lived for like 16 years in Russia, and other stuff like Uzbekistani Muradov being born in Tajikistan and receiving Uzbekistani citizenship few years ago or if I am not mistaken Topuria lived in Georgia same number of years as he lived in Germany.