See UFC Champ Dricus du Plessis Sing on The Masked Singer

The world of mixed martial arts and entertainment collided dramatically when newly-crowned UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis graced the stage of The Masked Singer South Africa. No stranger to high-stakes battles, Du Plessis traded the octagon for a microphone, performing incognito as the ‘Wildebeest’ on Season 2, Episode 5 of the hit show.

In a much-anticipated reveal during the episode aired on May 6, 2024, social media buzzed with excitement as the mysterious ‘Wildebeest’ was unmasked to be none other than Du Plessis. Fans were stunned yet delighted by his impressive vocals.

Reflecting on his unexpected star turn, Du Plessis remarked, I felt a mixture of nerves and excitement while being on the show. Performing One Republic’s ‘Counting Stars,’ he managed to capture his audience’s hearts before getting eliminated in what appeared to be an orchestrated dramatic reveal.

The decision to switch gears from combat to melody was not without its challenges. According to Du Plessis, performing under the mask brought an unexpected degree of comfort. As he put it, Performing under the mask was actually, I think, a lot easier than performing without it … He believed that the anonymity allowed him to focus more on his singing rather than stage jitters.

Loved by fans for his authenticity and versatility, Du Plessis revealed how much he enjoyed the experience despite the suspenseful elimination. He said on the SABC 3 website, I love music. His zest for new experiences was evident when he added, This was just another one to tick off in the box.

Interestingly, Du Plessis isn’t the first UFC fighter to take on The Masked Singer challenge. UFC Lightweight Michael Chandler made headlines in July 2022 with his rendition of Britney Spears’ ‘…Baby One More Time’, although it lacked the finesse displayed by Du Plessis.

The surprise debut came shortly after Du Plessis clinched victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January of this year, thus securing the middleweight crown. As he prepares for his upcoming title defense against former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August 2024, he reveals how much these non-combat ventures add value to his life. Backstage after his performance he quipped,Time to unleash the claws. Meow baby.

The overwhelming fan reaction encapsulated well with one netizen summarizing on social media: Local netizens took to social media to express their shock at seeing the champion fighter on the show while they were impressed with his singing skills. For Du Plessis, it’s clear; adding yet another dimension of rhythm and soul into his already multifaceted persona is just another day at work.