Dricus Du Plessis Made Us All Look Like Fools

The Fighting Business

26 Jan 202408:32

Summary

TLDRThe video chronicles the meteoric rise of Dricus Du Plessis in the UFC middleweight division. An unknown prospect from South Africa, Du Plessis was an underdog who consistently defied expectations. After surprising wins over Darren Till and Derek Brunson, Du Plessis shockingly defeated former champion Robert Whittaker. This earned him a title shot against Israel Adesanya, but Adesanya lost to Sean Strickland first. In the main event of UFC 297, Du Plessis faced Strickland for the belt. Despite concerns about his cardio, Du Plessis went five hard rounds to claim the unexpected championship.

Takeaways

😲 Dricus du Plessis was an unexpected new UFC middleweight champion after a close fight at UFC 297
🥊 Dricus built his reputation and stellar record fighting in South Africa before joining the UFC
🤔 Many doubted Dricus' gas tank and technique as he faced tougher UFC opponents
👊 Dricus scored upset knockout wins over Darren Till and Derek Brunson
😮 Dricus shockingly defeated former champ Robert Whittaker to become top contender
😱 Sean Strickland dethroned Israel Adesanya but then lost to Dricus in a 5-round war
🏆 Dricus showed tremendous heart and gas tank to become new middleweight champion
🔥 Dricus has the attributes to become a UFC star - power, personality and experience
❓ The question remains whether Dricus can stay consistent and remain champion
👀 Dricus made many doubters, including the narrator, look foolish with his meteoric rise

Q & A

Who is Dricus du Plessis and how did he become the UFC middleweight champion?
-Dricus du Plessis, known as 'Stillknocks', is a South African MMA fighter. Despite being seen as a gatekeeper and underdog, he scored upset wins over top contenders like Darren Till and Robert Whittaker to become the new middleweight champion at UFC 297 by defeating Sean Strickland.
What was Dricus du Plessis' reputation before joining the UFC?
-Before joining the UFC, Dricus had built a strong reputation in South Africa and European promotions like EFC and KSW. He had a near flawless record, an entertaining style, and was a champion in EFC.
Why were fans and critics doubtful of Dricus' ability initially?
-Fans and critics felt Dricus was not technically sound enough and lacked the cardio to compete with the UFC's elite fighters. He was seen as a slightly better Derek Brunson who would gas out against top competition.
How did Dricus prove his doubters wrong?
-Dricus proved his doubters wrong by beating top contenders like Darren Till and Robert Whittaker. He showed improved technique and cardio in 5 round wars to win the title against Sean Strickland at UFC 297.
What makes Dricus an intriguing and marketable champion?
-Dricus has power, size, charisma and is not afraid to engage in trash talk. He has been part of heated rivalries and can hype fights. This makes him an intriguing and marketable champion.
What was Dricus' most impressive win on his path to the title?
-Dricus' most impressive win was his victory over former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC 285. Whittaker was seen as a big step up in competition but Dricus defeated him via TKO to establish himself as the next title challenger.
How did Dricus address concerns about his cardio?
-By going 5 hard rounds with Sean Strickland and still having his hand raised, Dricus demonstrated elite cardio to address concerns about him gassing out in championship fights.
What does the future look like for Dricus as champion?
-The future looks bright for Dricus. At only 31 years old, he has time on his side to have a long reign as champion if he can continue improving and remain consistent against top contenders.
Who are the biggest threats to Dricus in the middleweight division?
-Fighters like Sean Strickland in a rematch, Khamzat Chimaev if he moves up, & Israel Adesanya if he returns are the biggest threats to Dricus. He will need to continue proving doubters wrong.
Will Dricus transition from underdog to MMA superstar?
-If Dricus can back up his trash talk by defending his title through exciting fights, he has the potential to transform from underdog to a huge MMA superstar, especially with his nationality and backstory.