Dricus Du Plessis secures a world title shot after a stunning victory over Robert Whittaker. Read about their intense face-off and the upcoming UFC 293 event in Sydney.
| Summary Points |
|---|
| Dricus Du Plessis secures a world title shot against Israel Adesanya |
| Impressive second-round stoppage of Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 |
| Du Plessis drops Whittaker twice before forcing the stoppage |
| Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya enters the cage for an intense face-off |
| Highly anticipated bout expected to headline UFC 293 in Sydney |
Dricus Du Plessis secured himself a world title shot against Israel Adesanya after a remarkable second-round stoppage of Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in Las Vegas. The South African showcased his championship potential by defeating the former champion in a spectacular fashion.
In the first round, Du Plessis unleashed a series of ground and pound strikes on Whittaker, setting the tone for the fight. In the second round, Du Plessis dropped Whittaker with a powerful right hand, followed by a body shot that sent him to the canvas once again. Du Plessis capitalized on the opportunity, relentlessly attacking Whittaker with his hands until the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
Following the bout, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya entered the cage, and the two fighters engaged in an intense face-off, exchanging some trash talk. Their highly anticipated showdown is expected to headline UFC 293 in Sydney on September 10.
Fight Updates and Highlights
Round 2: Whittaker finishes a combination with a signature right kick upstairs, but Du Plessis effectively blocks it. Du Plessis counters with a strong right hand. Whittaker attempts another right kick, but Du Plessis maintains a tight guard. Du Plessis drops Whittaker with a straight right and swarms him for the finish!
Round 1: Both fighters start the round with kicks, trying to find their range. Whittaker lands a nice right hand and a solid jab shortly after. He then secures a takedown and gains top position, but Du Plessis uses the cage to get back on his feet. Whittaker connects with another right hand over the top on the counter. Du Plessis forces Whittaker to retreat with a combination, setting a high pace for the fight. Du Plessis executes a trip takedown, landing in top position and cutting Whittaker with an elbow. He transitions to side control and attempts a d’arce choke before delivering ground and pound strikes.
SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Du Plessis
8:09pm PT/1:09pm AEST: Whittaker and Du Plessis are moments away from their showdown.
Fight Card and Results
Main Card
- Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs. Yair Rodriguez (ic) for the UFC featherweight title
- Brandon Moreno (c) vs. Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC flyweight title
- Dricus du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker via 2nd round TKO (punches) (2:23)
- Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn via 1st round TKO (punches) (:38)
Prelims
- Robbie Lawler def. Niko Price via 1st round KO (punch) (:38)
- Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Cháirez via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
- Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui via 1st round TKO (punches) (:20)
- Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute via 2nd round submission (guillotine choke) (1:55)
Early Prelims
- Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio via 3rd round submission (arm triangle) (3:42)
- Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell via 1st round TKO (punches) (3:10)
- Jesus Santos Aguilar def. Shannon Ross via 1st round KO (punch) (:17)
- Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
