Can Dricus Du Plessis overcome the odds and defeat Robert Whittaker? Read about their upcoming UFC middleweight clash and Du Plessis’ quest to prove himself in the Octagon.
| Key Points |
|---|
| Dricus Du Plessis aims to make a statement in his upcoming UFC middleweight bout against Robert Whittaker. |
| Du Plessis has won all five of his Octagon appearances and has risen to the top five rankings. |
| Whittaker has been unbeaten at middleweight, except for two losses against Israel Adesanya. |
| Despite being an underdog, Du Plessis embraces the doubt and looks forward to proving himself. |
| He sees this fight as an opportunity to usher in a new era in the middleweight division. |
UFC middleweight contender Dricus Du Plessis is looking to make a statement this weekend. Du Plessis, a former KSW and EFC champion, has enjoyed a perfect start to life on MMA’s biggest stage, winning all five of his Octagon appearances to date. Across the past year, the South African has surged into the top five courtesy of victories over Brad Tavares, Darren Till, and Derek Brunson.
The Toughest Test Yet
On Saturday, ‘Stillknocks’ will meet his toughest test to date in the form of ex-champion Robert Whittaker. The Australian has gone unbeaten at middleweight since his move to the division in 2014, aside from a pair of defeats to reigning champion Israel Adesanya. With that in mind, Du Plessis is tasked with doing what the likes of Yoel Romero, Kelvin Gastelum, Jared Cannonier, and Marvin Vettori have all failed to accomplish.
The Underdog
For that reason, the Pretoria native unsurprisingly sits as a heavy underdog, with his line on BetOnline.ag currently reading +300. That’s also seemingly reflected in the MMA community, where a number of prominent names have given grim assessments of Du Plessis’ chances. That includes Whittaker’s countryman, UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski, who insisted that ‘you’d be mad’ to back a triumph for the South African at UFC 290.
Embracing Doubt
Despite frequently being dismissed by fans and fighters as a legitimate test for elite middleweights like ‘The Reaper,’ a narrative that has been prevalent throughout his career in the Octagon to date, Du Plessis is welcoming that doubt. In fact, the #5-ranked contender told MiddleEasy that he’s excited to ‘educate’ the masses on his talent and the incoming ‘new era’ he expects to bring to the 185-pound division.
‘I think people are (writing me off). I think Robert Whittaker is a fan favorite, and rightfully so. He has proven himself time and time again. Nobody can take away the fact that Robert Whittaker doesn’t lose, other than against the champion,’ Du Plessis said.
A New Era
‘That’s about to change. I can’t come in here and step in to fight a guy like Robert Whittaker and just expect everyone to start backing me. What it’s gonna take is me proving that I deserve that backing and that’s what I plan on doing next weekend. I don’t see (the doubt) as disrespect, at all. I see it as a learning curve for the world of MMA. I see this as an opportunity to learn. I see this as an opportunity to educate a lot of people and to welcome them to what will be a new era of the middleweight division ; what is going to be the next big thing.’
| Fighter | Result |
|---|---|
| Dricus Du Plessis | TBD |
| Robert Whittaker | TBD |
As Dricus Du Plessis prepares to face the formidable Robert Whittaker, he acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead. Despite being considered an underdog, Du Plessis embraces the doubt and sees it as an opportunity to prove his worth. With his impressive winning streak and determination, he aims to usher in a new era in the middleweight division .
