WATCH: 'I’m ready to beat Sean Strickland and enjoy braaivleis' – Dricus du Plessis on UFC 312 (Sunday, 5 am)

Kfm Mornings speak to UFC Middleweight Champ, Mzansi's Dricus du Plessis.

Watch below:

On Sunday, 9 February, UFC fans will have their eyes glued to screens as Pretoria's world champ, Dricus du Plessis, takes on Sean Strickland for the Middleweight Title Rematch at UFC 312.

The middleweight title goes up for grabs down in Sydney, Australia. The title matchup is Du Plessis' second clash with Strickland in just 13 months. 

So, what can we expect from Du Plessis in the match on Sunday?

A win... and Dricus is 'ready to represent that flag and beat Sean Strickland, once again'.

"On paper, conditioning-wise, I am miles ahead of where I've been in any other fight... The improvements from the first Strickland fight which was a year ago to now have been tremendous."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

"When you become a world champion, the target's on your back and I knew I had to go and be prepared as I've ever been for anything in my life... every fight, there are mistakes... every fight; people study you and for this fight, I had to make sure that I am in perfect condition in every way for this... I feel incredible and can't wait to go out there."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

Now that we know, Du Plessis is ready for the match. He shares a bit on his rise to the top.

Spoiler alert: if Du Plessis wasn't a fighter, he would've gone on to play Mzansi's favourite, professional rugby.

"If Du Plessis wasn't a championship fighter, he would've been a rugby player as he was on the way to play for the Bulls just before he decided against it to pursue his fighting career. I said, 'Dad, I don't know if I want to do this. I want to fight.'"

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

"And at that stage, I mean, firstly, you can't make a living out of fighting in South Africa, at that stage. It was impossible. The seed was too small and I was an amateur. I was paying to fight. I started playing rugby when I was five [years old] and I just had to make that decision..."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

"... if I'm going to do this professionally, either one of these things, I have to make peace with the fact that one of these things I'm never going to be able to do again because the injury in rugby that's not breaking a finger... in rugby, you can't play. It's against the rules..."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

"... so this puts you in a position where you have to make the choice. Which one are you going to try and pursue and which one are you willing to give up forever... I will be the biggest rugby fan, but you know, I couldn't get it over my heart to think that I could never, never fight again. It's my passion and it's my purpose on this earth now."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

"I went to to Tuks. I went to study and the even harder discussion was six months before I graduated, I got a title shot for to fight for the UFC, the EFC title. And yeah, I was six months from getting my degree in my last semester. And I said I'm going to go full speed. I can always finish my studies later, but I only have one shot at this career. And I stopped my studies and I went just to be able to train full-time for that fight."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

"And I said, if I lose this fight, I am not as special as I thought... I don't have that world champion in me. If I lose a fight, even at this young age locally, I don't have what it takes to be the best in the world or as good as I wish I would have been. And then I will take the sport as a hobby and I will go back to my studies and, you know, do what I have to do. And the best decision; I won that fight... that day after winning that title was the start of my reign."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

How does a champion like Du Plessis train for a match? 

Short answer: no braaivleis before but definitely after a match.

Training also includes three to four sessions a day of wrestling, grappling, kicks, overall fitness, eating whole foods and no red meat.

"Nothing eats into training time. Prioritising time and managing it correctly is always top of mind."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

For those who didn't know, Du Plessis recently got engaged and says it's great to have a partner who understands and accepts his lifestyle, work and mentality.

"For us, there's not too much cuddling happening, not too many hugs and kisses because my mindset right now is switching and getting ready for war... and even for her, I kind of feel sorry for her because it's like she's dating two different human beings... when a fight comes around, it's such a selfish sport and everything needs to go around this fight and what needs to happen for me so everything else takes a backseat - family, friends, everything because you have to give it your all and it's amazing to have a partner understanding all of that."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

If you're wondering where the champion's mindset comes from, Du Plessis it's from losing matches and being choked out.

"I've had losses in my career, two losses after the first loss I got choked and I didn't tap and I got choked out. And that is, I mean, that is deciding to die. You know, kill me if you want, but I'm not. I'm going out on my shield and that's the first time that I knew I had that. It's easy to say I won't tap for that joke, but you know, when it's a, it's an anxious area to be in when you realize that you're going unconscious right now..."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

But that's not scary, it's liberating for Du Plessis.

"It's liberating... and why I'm a world champion. Not everyone is a world champion."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

Other than not fearing death while fighting, the champion does have fears, which include:

• the dark
• sharks
• deep ocean waters
• his mom

"I don't swim in the ocean. Sharks are terrifying for me."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

For anyone wanting to become a champion, Du Plessis has advice.

"Never underestimate your goals when you are setting your goals, dreams and standards. From a very young age, I decided that I wanted to be the best fighter to ever walk this earth and I'm far away from that goal... but that is my ultimate goal... that's where my mind's at and what motivates me every single day."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

Self-confidence (not arrogance) and believing in yourself are also top-tier champion thinking.

"People are very quick to always criticise themselves. You have to be realistic to yourself and do your introspection. But you should never talk down to yourself ever."

- Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion

All that's left to say is, 'Go, Dricus!'