Dricus du Plessis, a renowned UFC fighter, recently met with Formula 1 superstar Carlos Sainz, sparking excitement among fans. The South African fighter shared images of their encounter on Instagram, showcasing his experience training like an F1 driver.

Du Plessis, also known as “Stillknocks,” is a former middleweight champion in the UFC and one of the promotion’s most notable fighters. Sainz, on the other hand, is a Spanish F1 racer who currently drives for the Williams Racing team, having previously raced for Ferrari until the 2025 season.

In his Instagram post, du Plessis expressed his admiration for Sainz, stating, “What an incredible day learning from a legend like @carlossainz55.” Sainz responded to the post, saying, “Great to meet you!” Fans soon flooded the comments section, reacting to the unexpected meeting between the two sports stars. One fan commented, “SMOOTH OPERATORRRRR,” while another noted, “This is so wild seeing UFC and F1 combo, like. my two personalities meeting each other fr fr.”

Du Plessis’ coach, Morne Visser, has been focused on preparing the fighter for his return to the cage after his title defeat against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August. Visser emphasized the need for du Plessis to improve his wrestling skills, which he believes can be achieved within 12 to 16 weeks. The coach stated, “I don’t need fitness, I don’t need strength, I don’t need conditioning, I don’t need to fix his stand up, I just need to fix this problem, and it’s a fixable problem.” Visser expects du Plessis to be ready to return to action early next year, following a 12-week fight camp.

The meeting between du Plessis and Sainz highlights the intersection of different sports and the admiration that exists between athletes from various disciplines. As du Plessis continues to prepare for his return to the UFC, his encounter with Sainz serves as a reminder of the opportunities that exist for athletes to learn from and appreciate each other’s unique skills and experiences.