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Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi walk out with UFC champ before title fight

Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa walks out to the octagon to fight Israel Adesanya of Nigeria in the Middleweight championship fight during UFC 305 at RAC Arena on August 18, 2024 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Perth’s RAC Arena was illuminated by a green glow on Sunday afternoon as the challenger, Israel Adesanya, walked to the octagon at UFC 305. It was clear that most of those in attendance had decided to throw their support behind the man known as ‘The Last Stylebender’.

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Adesanya, 35, had a long-running and widely publicised feud with South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis that has spanned months. But with du Plessis winning the UFC middleweight world title on January 20 in Canada, the stars aligned for the pair to settle their differences in the octagon.

While Nigerian-New Zealand UFC great Adesanya was the first to walk out to the site for the pair’s highly anticipated bout, it takes two to throw down. Once Adesanya’s walkout song faded out, a familiar anthem began to blast through the speakers at the Perth venue.

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Du Plessis included some of the South African national anthem in his walkout song. If you’re familiar with the reasons behind the pair’s headline-grabbing feud, then you’ll agree this choice certainly set the scene for one of the most popular UFC middleweight title fights in recent memory.

It was a special moment, and the surprises didn’t stop there either. Two icons of Springboks rugby joined du Plessis on the long walk out to the octagon. As it had been reported during the week, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi had that honour.

The two-time Rugby World cup winners flanked du Plessis as the king of the middleweight division was met by cheers, boos, and cries of passion from the faithful in the stands. That privilege to walk out with du Plessis was not one Etzebeth took for granted.

“Obviously, I’m glad we laid a foundation tonight for him,” Eben Etzebeth told reporters after the Springboks’ 30-12 win over the Wallabies on Saturday. “He obviously watched the fight and I heard he had a bet with one of the Australian fighters as well so I think he got his money.

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“We’re excited. There’s probably 80 per cent of the squad going to the fight hopefully if me and Siya can walk him out. It’s going to be an unbelievable experience.

“He’s a warrior and we’re looking forward to seeing him fight and all the best to him.”

As Etzebeth mentioned, there was indeed a bet between Australian heavyweight Tai Tuivasa and du Plessis about the Wallabies’ clash with the Springboks. Tuivasa, 31, was candidly hilarious when talking about the money he decided to put on the line.

 

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The 31-year-old from Western Sydney revealed on Friday that he’d “put 500 (dollars) on the Wallabies. I didn’t know… (they) lost last week.” That admission was met with deafening cheers of laughter from fight fans watching on at a mid-week press conference.

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South Africa would go on to win that Test match 30-12 and claim another slice of history in the world of mixed martial arts. Du Plessis retained the UFC middleweight title after beating Adesanya by submission during the fourth round.

The fight had lived up to the hype up until that point with the two warriors trading significant blows – it seemed the bout could’ve gone either way. But when du Plessis threw his arms up in the air to celebrate victory, that was a win for South Africa.

Etzebeth and Kolisi shared in the celebrations as well. The two were animated as the fight came to a close, and they then had an opportunity to step into the octagon for the official decision.

Both Springboks had another unforgettable moment to cherish as they joined the world champion within the UFC’s cage. Etzebeth threw his hands up in the air as the champ was presented with his belt – you couldn’t miss the towering lock – and Kolisi hugged a member of du Plessis’ team.

Two worlds collided in a moment that will echo throughout South African sporting history forever. Those fortunate enough to have been there will never forget how powerful the walkout was with the Boks joining in, and the passion in which du Plessis fought as well.

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Comments

2 Comments
J
JK 77 days ago

Siya and Eben looked very stiff on the walk out. The group hug after felt a bit more real. Also playing the SA anthem on the walkout was class

C
CR 78 days ago

Hopefully a good omen for the Ellis Park test 🤗

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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