Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Sean Strickland (red glove) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

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Dricus Du Plessis Sends A Pointy Congratulations To Shara Magomedov After His UFC Abu Dhabi Win

After Shara Bullet won a hard decision victory against Marc-Andre Barriault, Dricus Du Plessis sends a pointed message!

Dricus Du Plessis has never been one to hold his tongue. The South African middleweight champion built his reputation on two things: brutal fighting and even more brutal trash talk. His mouth moves faster than his fists sometimes, and that’s saying something. Du Plessis doesn’t just defeat opponents in the octagon. He psychologically dismantles them with words that cut deeper than any punch.

The man they call ‘Stillknocks’ has turned trolling into an art form. This weekend at UFC Abu Dhabi, Du Plessis proved once again that no fighter is safe from his sharp tongue. Even when someone else is celebrating a hard fought victory, the champion finds a way to steal the spotlight with his controversial comments. His latest target wasn’t even in his crosshairs, but that didn’t stop him from throwing shade.

Dricus Du Plessis Congratulates Shara Magomedov

Shara Magomedov walked away from UFC Abu Dhabi with a decision victory over Marc-Andre Barriault and a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus. The Russian fighter earned every penny of that bonus money through blood, sweat, and a broken nose. His striking looked sharp, his movement stayed crisp, and he showed the heart of a warrior throughout three brutal rounds. Most people would call that a successful evening at the office, especially considering the punishment both men absorbed during their violent dance.

But Du Plessis saw things differently. Instead of acknowledging Magomedov’s impressive performance, the champion decided to focus on something completely unrelated to fighting skills. Taking to social media, Du Plessis wrote

“Well done Cyclops/leprechaun”

😅 Dricus Du Plessis reacts to Shara's win. pic.twitter.com/vJj2Kp4QSR
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) July 26, 2025

The “Cyclops” reference targeted Magomedov’s missing eye, lost years ago in a sparring accident that could have ended his career before it really began. The “leprechaun” part seemed to mock his curly red hair and beard, because apparently Du Plessis moonlights as a hair critic when he’s not defending titles!

This attack perfectly captures Du Plessis’s approach to mental warfare. Magomedov wasn’t calling him out, wasn’t ranked in the middleweight division, and posed zero immediate threat to his championship. The Russian was simply trying to rebuild his career after losing his top 15 ranking following a defeat to Michael Page earlier this year. Yet somehow, his successful night became ammunition for Du Plessis’s verbal assault.

(Image Credit: Dan Hamilton – Imagn Images)

Dricus Du Plessis

Shara Magomedov

UFC Abu Dhabi

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!