UFC 305 headliner Dricus Du Plessis secured his first shot at gold on MMA's biggest stage by getting the better of an all-time great of the middleweight division in Robert Whittaker.
The 185-pound kingpin will return in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view card at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, where he’s tasked with defending his belt in a grudge match against Israel Adesanya.
Before unseating Sean Strickland this past January, Du Plessis earned his spot as top contender by shocking the world with his performance against Whittaker, who is widely regarded as one of the best the weight class has seen.
Despite being 5-0 in the Octagon at the time, the South African former KSW champion had plenty of detractors doubting his unorthodox style and its chances against the division's elite. But Du Plessis made good on his confidence by stopping "The Reaper" in round two during International Fight Week in July 2023..
Ahead of Saturday’s event, the promotion has released the full Du Plessis vs. Whittaker fight from UFC 290 on its official YouTube channel.
Du Plessis will now need to upset the odds once again if he's to add a successful defense to his résumé in mixed martial arts.
In addition to maintaining his spot on the middleweight throne and further enhancing his legacy in the division, victory in Perth would keep the South African's UFC 0 intact. That's not to mention stopping Adesanya from a historic three-time crowning.