This article contains descriptions of violent activity which could be imitated
Dricus du Plessis is nonchalant but firm when asked if he has been punished with a Taser-like implement during his training camp before facing Khamzat Chimaev.
“Absolutely, multiple times,” the South African tells BBC Sport. “I get tased every fight camp.
“That’s how it is. If you make mistakes constantly – if you repeatedly make the same mistake – you’re getting tased, and that’s it.”
It was revealed last year that Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser uses the Taser-like tool on the fighters he trains as punishment for mistakes they make in the gym.
Footage showed Du Plessis lying face down on his stomach, with Visser tasing the soles of his feet.
It is an unorthodox and controversial training method – and potentially very dangerous – but Du Plessis credits it with helping him become a UFC champion.
On Saturday, the 31-year-old will make the third defence of his middleweight title against Russia’s Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago, Illinois.
“I always say this – I’m South African and we are built different. We do whatever it takes to become a champion and this is my coach’s method,” says Du Plessis.
“Do I like it? No. But that’s his method and if I don’t like it I can leave that gym any time.
“Did it make me a world champion? Yes, it did. You can’t expect different results doing the same thing as everybody else, it’s not going to work.”
Du Plessis gives a wry smile before taking a sip of his drink after revealing what it feels like to be tased.
“It feels absolutely terrible,” he says. “It’s like touching an electric fence – you just know it’s going to be terrible. But it does make that mental note stick.”
