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On to championship fight
Du Plessis will fight Sean Strickland for the UFC Middleweight Championship in Toronto at UFC 297 on Jan. 20, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Coming off an upset win over former champion Robert Whittaker, Du Plessis could have fought Israel Adesanya for middleweight gold at UFC 293 had the former not been unavailable due to a lingering injury. Adesanya fought Strickland instead, and the latter seized his opportunity to win gold. Du Plessis will fight Strickland now, with the winner expected to fight Khamzat Chimaev, who earned the right by defeating Kamaru Usman in a title eliminator.
Coming off an upset win over former champion Robert Whittaker, Du Plessis could have fought Israel Adesanya for middleweight gold at UFC 293 had the former not been unavailable due to a lingering injury. Adesanya fought Strickland instead, and the latter seized his opportunity to win gold. Du Plessis will fight Strickland now, with the winner expected to fight Khamzat Chimaev, who earned the right by defeating Kamaru Usman in a title eliminator.
Dominant win, title fight next
Du Plessis defeated Robert Whittaker via TKO (punches) at 2:23 of Round 1 at UFC 290 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It's by far the biggest victory of Du Plessis' pro career, and one that will earn him a title shot against UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya, likely at UFC 293 on September 10 in Sydney, Australia. Dricus more than deserves the opportunity after defeating a fighter that hadn't lost to anyone other than Adesanya in the past nine-plus years. Round 1 was very tight until Du Plessis threw Whittaker to the mat and split him open with an elbow and some ground-and-pound in the closing seconds. Whittaker got on track early in Round 2 before Dricus connected with a right hand that wobbled Rob and eventually forced him to the mat. Du Plessis followed up and closed the show in a dramatic effort that would go on to earn him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. Most people aren't going to give Dricus much chance against Izzy, but he has size, power and is durable. Du Plesiss was a +260 underdog to Whittaker. Expect that number to climb a bit when the title fight finally rolls around.
It's by far the biggest victory of Du Plessis' pro career, and one that will earn him a title shot against UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya, likely at UFC 293 on September 10 in Sydney, Australia. Dricus more than deserves the opportunity after defeating a fighter that hadn't lost to anyone other than Adesanya in the past nine-plus years. Round 1 was very tight until Du Plessis threw Whittaker to the mat and split him open with an elbow and some ground-and-pound in the closing seconds. Whittaker got on track early in Round 2 before Dricus connected with a right hand that wobbled Rob and eventually forced him to the mat. Du Plessis followed up and closed the show in a dramatic effort that would go on to earn him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. Most people aren't going to give Dricus much chance against Izzy, but he has size, power and is durable. Du Plesiss was a +260 underdog to Whittaker. Expect that number to climb a bit when the title fight finally rolls around.
Fighting Robert Whittaker
Du Plessis will face Robert Whittaker in a middleweight bout at UFC 290 in Las Vegas on July 8, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Du Plessis will look to keep his momentum going after defeating Derek Brunson via TKO at UFC 285. The winner of the bout with Whittaker will take on Israel Adesanya for the title in Sydney later in 2023.
Du Plessis will look to keep his momentum going after defeating Derek Brunson via TKO at UFC 285. The winner of the bout with Whittaker will take on Israel Adesanya for the title in Sydney later in 2023.
Digs deep to defeat Derek Brunson
Du Plessis defeated Derek Brunson via TKO (corner stoppage) at 4:59 of Round 2 at UFC 285 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Du Plessis is in trouble most every single fight in which he competes, and this was no exception. He lost Round 1 on the heels of some beautiful Brunson grappling. Yet, once Dricus picked up the pace in Round 2 , his exhausted opponent was unable to keep up. Du Plessis landed countless power shots, and Brunson wilted under the pressure. His corner ultimately threw in the towel with just a second remaining in the second frame. Now a perfect 5-0 in the UFC with four of the wins coming via stoppage, the 29-year-old South African is going to continue to get meaningful fights at 185 pounds as 2023 progresses.
Du Plessis is in trouble most every single fight in which he competes, and this was no exception. He lost Round 1 on the heels of some beautiful Brunson grappling. Yet, once Dricus picked up the pace in Round 2 , his exhausted opponent was unable to keep up. Du Plessis landed countless power shots, and Brunson wilted under the pressure. His corner ultimately threw in the towel with just a second remaining in the second frame. Now a perfect 5-0 in the UFC with four of the wins coming via stoppage, the 29-year-old South African is going to continue to get meaningful fights at 185 pounds as 2023 progresses.
Slated to fight in March
Du Plessis will face Derek Brunson in a middleweight bout at UFC 285 on March 4, Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Du Plessis fought at UFC 282 on Dec. 10 and defeated Darren Till via submission (rear-naked choke) to remain undefeated with the promotion. He'll take on Brunson, who most recently lost to Jared Cannonier via TKO (strikes) at UFC 271. The two fighters are even in height, but Brunson has a slight advantage in reach.
Du Plessis fought at UFC 282 on Dec. 10 and defeated Darren Till via submission (rear-naked choke) to remain undefeated with the promotion. He'll take on Brunson, who most recently lost to Jared Cannonier via TKO (strikes) at UFC 271. The two fighters are even in height, but Brunson has a slight advantage in reach.