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

By Finn Morton
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.

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 23 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 24 days ago

Hopefully a good omen for the Ellis Park test 🤗

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N
NS 3 hours ago
All Blacks dared to put 'record on the line' in 'biggest game in 2025'

We need big bodies to match European and South African Team. NZ got them in heaps. The end of the year Northern Hemisphere tour is coming and it is the perfect time to realign and makes changes.

Firstly, a few pointers for Razor. BB and DMAc are not 1st Fives. As long as these two start all blacks will never win big games. Pick only one in the reserve for big games as cover for FB. Richie Moanga is ok and better than BB and DMAc at 1st five. If Richie is available BB and Dmac should never be picked.

Secondly, Rico has to go. Rico is the reason why all blacks did not win the world cup. It was lost in the quarter final when he sledged departing Irish player. Perhaps if he had performed a haka and bring him to tears rather than derail him in his last day, Rugby Gods will be smiling at AB. It is karma. Like Gregans "wait 4 more years" Sledge and Australia lost the final to England

On the other hand, you see the South African players will never ever do such acts and go down that low. They are very respectful and good people and they will keep winning. Rugby Gods will make South Africa win and they will keep winning unless Scott makes these changes

Thirdly, Don't let Sam Cane go. All Blacks have to keep him for big games. All Blacks Maul Defense is good because of him. Just keep him at test level and no other Rugby or very minimal club Rugby. Young loosies should hang around with Cane and learn about humility and respect

A message to BB, Dmac, Rico, Ardie Savea and TJ. Please make yourselves unavailable for 2 years. Ardie you are good but not a Back Row. You are too light.

That out of the way, now let’s select the team.

Front row sorted out by Jason Ryan. Won’t talk about it.

Locking sorted out with Tupou, Scott, Darry, Pat Tuipulotu and Josh Lord

Loosies. Do away with Ardie for a while. Go with Siti, Sotutu, Cane, Ethan, Jacobson, Papalii and Finau

Young stars like Satiti and Finau have to be grounded and train hard in the gym and bulk up for the next world cup. Sotutu has to work harder off the ball.

Half Backs: TJ out.  Cam Roigard [has to learn to scream and communicate game time], Ratima and Noah Hotham

Back Line:            1st Five: Harry Plummer [Inside center Cover]

                                2nd five: JB [Fullback and first five cover]

                                Outside Centre: Billy Proctor

                                Wings: Clarke and Will Jordon [Fullback Cover]

                                Fullback: Ruben Love [1st Five Cover], Zarn Sullivan

Wings: Shaun Stevson [Fullback Cover], Talaea and Narawa

Centre: Quinn Tupaea, Umaga Jenson Brothers - need big boys, ALB

Messaage to BB, DMac, Ardiae, Rico and  TJ. If you want All Backs to evolve and be world leaders again, please make yourselves unavailable for 2 years. Please just do it for your country. You will come back stronger in 2 years.

New Zealand team reminds me of NSW State of Origin. They always had the best players in their positions but never selected them in their position until Madge came and now NSW will be untouchable.

12 Go to comments
J
JW 3 hours ago
'Schmidt will not be forgiven or forgotten if Wallabies suffer Bled-bath'

After a promising beginning at the restarts led by young lock Jeremy Williams

Haha and your man Frost got out jumped by a prop at the restart! As Rassie referred to Ethan Blackadder as "PSdT like" after their game I think I'll take the player support prize here thank you Nick!


Yep, all Gordon had to do was pass immediately and the whole situation becomes a positive about the good carry forward on exists.


Classic vide that! Love the Irerish crowd boeing two clear backward passes, a great example of what was to come over the next decade from the Emerald Isle! Awesome old comms quality hand to the ear "what was that?"!! That last sequence reminds of of how well the All Blacks attacked this weekend. It might be as far back as this game was played the last time we saw the AB build that sort of pressure on their own back without relying on any sort of opportunity from the opposition.

Argentina head honcho Felipe Contempomi cut his teeth as an attack coach in Stuart Lancaster’s innovative system at Leinster

Ahhh! That explains the great depth and sideways rugby they are playing!! Hve to disagree on your diagnosis you have to attack it, I think thats why Stuar and Contepomi want you to do. Best idea is Schmidt do what he did with the All Blacks, which seems to what they're trying, if not still without at least a few steps up. In saying that though, again this Springbok attack, I felt the All Blacks should hve kept pressure that first or second receiver after the first two steps up they take. They seemed ripe for the pick by contrast to Los Pumas.


If you look at Reece's side of the field, that would be a great oppostunity for NZ to perform blitzes on, Barrett, Rieko, and a thundering Reece doing his Feyi-Waboso impersonation would be the best blitz backline in the world. Clarke on the other wing too if playing. I think Dlyan Pietsch has the attitude and tackling technique to try and pull it off?


In fairness, I feel what you are seeing as passivity on defence as actually coming from a lack of intensity in general from Australia. I was thinking about that during this game. It might be New Zealands great battle with the Springboks that has enabled them to develop it as a weapon, but I can't ever remember it as being one of the Wallabies. Those clashes always seem to been about pure tempo. The ABs flicked a switch in game two versus Argentina and kept their physicality up through both South African games. Perhaps that is the "Australian Way" piece that Schmidt is missing? 'Tempo' is a much hard switch to find, especially in the dark.

206 Go to comments
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