UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis has been on a roll in the division. With nine straight wins in the Octagon and back-to-back victories over Sean Strickland and Robert Whittaker, the South African continues to cement his legacy with every performance. As he gears up for a third title defence at UFC 319 against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, Du Plessis took a moment to reflect on the fight that pushed him the most.
During a recent interview with Betway South Africa, Du Plessis admitted that facing former champion Israel Adesanya wasn’t just a tactical challenge, it was the one that rattled his nerves the most.
“My toughest opponent to date? That’s a very open-ended question because there were fights that were the hardest for me. I have to say, probably Adesanya was the best guy I faced in his specific area, probably the fight I was the most nervous for, just in terms of how good he is,” Du Plessis said. “He can catch you with anything, anytime. All the time, I spent looking up to him and studying him because he was the benchmark. Knowing what he’s capable of, I think he is the best guy I faced, and obviously, if you watched that fight, it was one hell of a fight.”
That war with Adesanya at UFC 305 lived up to the hype. Du Plessis submitted “The Last Stylebender” in the fourth round after a back-and-forth contest that tested both fighters. Despite the tension leading into the bout, the pair found mutual respect after sharing the cage. Even Adesanya went on to back Du Plessis to handle Chimaev in his next outing.
For Du Plessis, that fight holds more than just physical significance. It was the culmination of years spent studying a rival who once ruled the division.
“It was a tough night at the office for both of us,” Du Plessis added. “He was the guy I looked up to and studied because he was the benchmark. I knew what he was capable of. That’s why I felt that fight differently.”
Now set to headline UFC 319 at the United Centre in Chicago, Dricus Du Plessis remains unfazed by the odds. He walks into this next bout as a slight underdog, but that’s nothing new for “Stillknocks,” who’s made a career out of defying expectations.
Out of his 23 professional wins, Du Plessis has finished all but two opponents. His record isn’t just built on precision, it’s built on tenacity. While he credits Adesanya for being the most skilled, he didn’t forget to highlight the warriors who pushed him with sheer skill.
“When you go on pure toughness, you have to go with either Brad Tavares or Sean Strickland,” he said. “Just the amount of damage they were able to take and just keep going.”
As Dricus Du Plessis prepares for another war at UFC 319, one thing is certain, he’s not backing down, no matter who stands across from him.
