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This article contains descriptions of violent activity which could be imitated<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“Absolutely, multiple times,” the South African tells BBC Sport. “I get tased every fight camp.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Footage showed Du Plessis lying face down on his stomach, with Visser tasing the soles of his feet.<\/p>\n
It is an unorthodox and controversial training method – and potentially very dangerous – but Du Plessis credits it with helping him become a UFC champion.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“Do I like it? No. But that’s his method and if I don’t like it I can leave that gym any time.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Du Plessis gives a wry smile before taking a sip of his drink after revealing what it feels like to be tased.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n