When South Africa’s UFC champion Dricus Du Plessis met Formula One star Carlos Sainz, it was a rare crossover of sporting worlds.
Barcelona, Spain (13 October 2025) – It felt like one of those unforgettable crossover episodes from your favourite childhood TV shows. Only this time, it was not superheroes teaming up, but two world-class athletes from completely different arenas sharing a moment.
UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus du Plessis met Formula One driver Carlos Sainz, creating the kind of sports crossover fans did not know they needed. Dricus captured the moment perfectly, captioning the photo: ‘What an incredible day learning from a legend.’
It’s not every day that a UFC champion trades an octagon for a racing track. Normally, for Dricus, it’s punches and kicks, but on this day it was all speed and wheels.
Both men represent the pinnacle of their respective disciplines. Dricus flying the South African flag on the global MMA stage, and Carlos carving out his legacy in the world of Formula One for Williams Racing.
Carlos, who is currently ranked 12th, still has a couple of races left this F1 season, with the next stop being the Circuit of the Americas for the United States Grand Prix this weekend. Meanwhile, Dricus is not slowing down either. His next UFC opponent is yet to be confirmed, but fans expect him to face another top-five middleweight contender as he eyes a shot back at the title.
A rare moment to see two athletes at the top of their game pause and share a laugh, swapping stories from the racetrack and the Octagon.
Sources: Dricus “Stillknocks” du Plessis
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