"Israel Adesanya Was the Best Guy I Faced": Dricus Du Plessis Reveals Toughest UFC Opponent
- UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis named Israel Adesanya as the toughest and most skilled opponent he's ever faced
- Du Plessis remains undefeated in the UFC and has already defended his title twice in 2024, including a submission win over Adesanya
- The South African champion is set to defend his belt against unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev in the UFC 319 main event in Chicago
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UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis has carved out a distinct presence in the division, blending unpredictability with dominance.
Despite a style that defies convention, the South African powerhouse has maintained an unblemished record in the Octagon. He dethroned Sean Strickland to claim the middleweight crown in 2024 and has since successfully defended his title twice, solidifying his reign at the top.
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Who did Du Plessis say has been his toughest opponent
In an interview with Betway South Africa, Du Plessis named former champion Israel Adesanya as the best opponent he has ever faced.
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"My toughest opponent to date, well, that's a very open-ended question because there were fights that were the hardest for me," Du Plessis said.
"I have to say, probably Adesanya was the best guy I faced in his specific area, the fight I was most nervous for, just in terms of how good he is.
"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's the best guy I've faced, and, if you watch that fight, it was one hell of a fight. It was a tough night at the office for both of us."
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Du Plessis' unbeaten UFC record
"Stillknocks," as the South African is affectionately known, has been undefeated in the UFC since his debut in 2020. He captured the middleweight title earlier in 2024 by edging Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297.
He followed that up with a spectacular fourth-round submission victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, before again defeating Strickland, this time by unanimous decision, in a rematch at UFC 312 in February.
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The UFC is set to make its long-awaited return to Chicago on the weekend of August 16, where Du Plessis will defend his middleweight crown against unbeaten contender Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319.
The South African champion has defeated all but two of his opponents in his career.
"When you go on pure toughness, you have to go with either Brad Tavares or Sean Strickland," Du Plessis continued. "Just the amount of damage they were able to take and just keep going."
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Why UFC Africa won't happen yet
Briefly News previously reported that UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis shed light on why hosting a UFC event in South Africa remains unlikely for now.
He explained that ticket prices, which can reach nearly R1 million, are beyond what most locals can afford, making the event financially unviable for them. Du Plessis also pointed out that while South Africa has large venues, very few meet the UFC’s indoor arena standards.
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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
