This text accommodates descriptions of violent exercise which may very well be imitated
Dricus du Plessis is nonchalant however agency when requested if he has been punished with a Taser-like implement throughout his coaching camp earlier than dealing with Khamzat Chimaev.
“Completely, a number of occasions,” the South African tells BBC Sport. “I get tased each combat camp.
“That is how it’s. When you make errors continually – in the event you repeatedly make the identical mistake – you are getting tased, and that is it.”
It was revealed final 12 months that Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser makes use of the Taser-like software on the fighters he trains as punishment for errors they make within the fitness center.
Footage confirmed Du Plessis mendacity face down on his abdomen, with Visser tasing the soles of his ft.
It’s an unorthodox and controversial coaching methodology – and doubtlessly very harmful – however Du Plessis credit it with serving to him develop into a UFC champion.
On Saturday, the 31-year-old will make the third defence of his middleweight title in opposition to Russia’s Chimaev at UFC 319 in Chicago, Illinois.
“I all the time say this – I am South African and we’re constructed completely different. We do no matter it takes to develop into a champion and that is my coach’s methodology,” says Du Plessis.
“Do I prefer it? No. However that is his methodology and if I do not prefer it I can go away that fitness center any time.
“Did it make me a world champion? Sure, it did. You may’t count on completely different outcomes doing the identical factor as everyone else, it is not going to work.”
Du Plessis provides a wry smile earlier than taking a sip of his drink after revealing what it feels prefer to be tased.
“It feels completely horrible,” he says. “It is like touching an electrical fence – you simply know it is going to be horrible. However it does make that psychological be aware stick.”
