JOHANNESBURG - UFC Middleweight world champion Dricus du Plessis returned home on Thursday.
He's the first South African to win a UFC world title.
Du Plessis said waiting for the final decision was the most intense moment of his life.
"It's always a fifty-fifty. When they started announcing the decision, I've never prayed so hard in my life," he said.
"It was absolutely incredible."
Du Plessis said this is not the end of the road.
"This is just the beginning of the championship reign and the Dricus du Plessis era," he said.
"After this I want to go up in weight division and fight for another title."
UFC champ returns home 2
UFC champ returns home 3