Robert Whittaker recently showered Dricus Du Plessis with praise, commending his fierce mentality and determination to secure victories in the Octagon.
At UFC 305 last month, Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight crown for the first time, securing a stunning fourth-round submission victory over former champion Israel Adesanya—a win that Whittaker had confidently predicted beforehand.
"The Reaper" is no stranger to Du Plessis. The 33-year-old Aussie clashed with “Stillknocks” at UFC 290 in July 2023, where Du Plessis stopped him in the second round. Before that bout, Whittaker had an impeccable 12-0 record in the UFC’s 185-pound division against everyone except Adesanya, to whom he had fallen twice.
Whittaker is now preparing for a high-stakes showdown against Khamzat Chimaev in a five-round middleweight clash, serving as the co-main event of UFC 308. The bout is set for October 26 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
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The victor of this matchup is expected to earn a title shot against Du Plessis, and Whittaker is focused on sharpening his skills, determined to first conquer "Borz" and then settle the score with the South African...
Whittaker On Du Plessis' Toughness: 'He's Literally Willing To Die Out There'
During a recent interview with mainevent, "The Reaper" opened up about his preparations for his upcoming showdown with Chimaev. The former middleweight champion revealed that he's working hard to refine all aspects of his game, whether it’s striking or wrestling, as he aims to be more well-rounded than ever before.
My striking is only getting better," Whittaker said. "You can believe that every second you don't see me in a ring or in an Octagon striking, I'm out there—I'm on the mat wrestling. Like, I'm constantly wrestling, I'm constantly grinding, and I'm perfecting myself. I'm really looking to come into this next fight as the best version of myself, with every box ticked.
Whittaker also weighed in on Du Plessis' victory over Adesanya, offering insight into what sets "Stillknocks" apart. He noted that while Du Plessis boasts an unorthodox fighting style, it's his ironclad mentality and toughness that truly drives his success in the cage.
I think he's got a really solid headspace and mentality for winning fights. I think that's like his superpower because he's an awkward dude, he obviously hits really hard, and he's tough as nails. But I think all of that stems from his relentlessness mentally. He's literally willing to die out there, and I think if you don't match that mentality, if you don't come into the Octagon with the same headspace, you're not going to take it from him.
Whittaker is riding a wave of momentum with consecutive dominant victories over Paulo Costa and Ikram Aliskerov. Now, he's setting his sights on delivering a statement performance against Chimaev, hoping to solidify his position as the next in line to challenge Du Plessis for the title.