Dricus du Plessis wins fight in UFC 312. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC India
Dricus du Plessis bears on his face the scars of someone who was never unanimous. Not even when he arrived at the UFC in 2020, under criticism for an 'ugly' fighting style. Not even when he knocked down Robert whittaker, former champion, in 2023. And much less when he stepped into the octagon in Sydney, last Saturday (8), to face Sean Strickland for the second time. But, like a character out of a Rocky Balboa script, the South African turned other people's skepticism into fuel for his rise.
On the Australian night of UFC 312, the current middleweight champion (up to 83,9gk.) not only retained the belt, but buried any doubts about its legitimacy. With a meticulous strategy, he controlled Strickland for five rounds, avoided the American's cross blows and finished the night with his arms raised — for the ninth consecutive time in the organization.
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The irony? Du Plessis has never fit the 'global athlete' mold that the UFC often promotes. He represents South Africa as the country's first champion in the organization's history and has also developed a striking clumsy and unpopular.
Today Dricus du Plessis not only carries the middleweight belt, but questions the immutable hierarchy of a division that once had kings like Anderson Silva e Israel adesanya. Is the South African, with his path full of twists and turns, worthy of a place among the three greatest in history, as he suggested in a post-event interview?
The watershed
"It's like a virus: it adapts, invades spaces and knocks you down when you least expect it.“, joked Dana White, president of the organization, at a post-event press conference.
When Dricus du Plessis finished Israel adesanya No. UFC 305, in August 2024, more than defending the belt, he buried a narrative. The Nigerian, owner of five title defenses and considered the second greatest middleweight in history, had never fallen by submission. For the South African, however, breaking paradigms is routine.
Born in Pretoria, the champion has 23 wins and only two losses in his 12-year career. In the UFC, he maintains an unblemished record: nine consecutive triumphs, including two victories over Sean Strickland and a technical knockout over Robert whittaker, former champion who dominated the category between 2017 and 2019.
Is Dricus du Plessis greater than Rockhold, Weidman and Whittaker?
The answer requires a cold analysis of the facts and figures. Dricus has two title defenses — against Israel adesanya (finalization) and Sean Strickland (unanimous decision) —, surpassing Rockhold (one defense) and equaling Whittaker (one defense as linear champion).
Weidman, however, still boasts three consecutive defenses, including wins over Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida e Vitor belfort. The All-American went down in history as the man who ended Spider-Man's reign, but it's also true that his legacy has been tarnished by quick losses after losing the title. Three defenses against legends maintain his status, but the sudden fall from grace could put him at a disadvantage in the race.
Champion with impeccable aesthetics (footwork, refined jiu-jitsu), Luke Rockhold had a short reign and an even quicker fall to Michael Bisping. A title defense and wins over Weidman and Machida were not enough to sustain his place at the top. He can be considered behind on the list – if analyzed coldly in relation to numbers.
Yes, Robert whittaker unified the belt after Georges St-Pierre's retirement and defended it once against Yoel romero. Despite five consecutive victories in the division, his losses to Adesanya and Du Plessis, direct rivals on the list, limit his historic rise.
Promising future
Your next challenge is Khamzat Shimaev, a wrestling phenomenon who has maintained an unbeaten streak of 13 fights. The date has not yet been confirmed, but Du Plessis' promise is clear:
“I will prove that I am the most complete of this generation,” said the champion in a post-event interview.
There is, however, a bigger plan. The South African is also negotiating a jump to light heavyweight (up to 93kg) to face Alex Poatán, current owner of the belt — an attempt to replicate the feat of Conor McGregor, Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo e Amanda nunes, the only athletes to hold two titles simultaneously.
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