PHOTO: Rising UFC middleweight, criticized recently by Kamaru Usman for "African Champion" comment, sports African-native dress dashiki

Up-and-coming UFC middleweight contender Dricus du Plessis has recently come under fire from fellow UFC star Kamaru Usman for making claims about being the only true African who will ever become a UFC champion.

Adding to the controversy, du Plessis was recently seen sporting a Dashiki, a traditional African garment.The debate surrounding du Plessis' claims and fashion choices highlights the complex interplay of identity, culture, and representation in the sports world.

While du Plessis may feel a deep connection to his African heritage and seek to express it through his fashion choices, his comments about being the only "legitimate" African UFC champion have been seen as divisive and exclusionary by former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman.

Check out the social media post by 'Stillknocks' here:

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Dashiki is a colorful and loose-fitting garment that originated in West Africa. It is often made of cotton and silk fabric and features intricate patterns and designs that reflect the cultural heritage of the wearer's community.

'The Nigerian Nightmare' has also been known to proudly represent his African heritage by wearing traditional African attire in various public appearances. Usman's fashion choices reflect his pride in his Nigerian roots and his desire to honor and celebrate the rich cultural traditions of his homeland.

Kamaru Usman responds to Dricus Du Plessis' only "legitimate" African champion statement

Proud Nigerian-American UFC star Kamaru Usman has responded to recent comments made by Dricus Du Plessis, a rising middleweight contender in the UFC.

Du Plessis, who hails from South Africa, drew criticism after suggesting that he is the only "legitimate" African fighter in the UFC because he still lives and trains on the continent, unlike Usman and Israel Adesanya. To which 'The Nigerian Nightmare' responded:

"The one thing he's failing to realize is just because I go to China, and my parents are in China, and I'm raised in China, that doesn't make me more Chinese than people from China. Just because you went over to South Africa and you were raised there, that doesn't make you African."

He added:

"These younger guys and these newer guys, they get up here and they just talk because they want to appeal to the fans and appeal to the people, but try to be more mindful because 20 years from now, that's not going to age well."

Check out the entire remarks below:

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Edited by Micah Curtis