Dricus Du
Plessis has faced some opponents who just refused to go
down.
Du Plessis (23-3) lost his middleweight title to Khamzat
Chimaev at
UFC 319 last year. However, it didn’t feel like a fight to Du
Plessis, as he was dominated for five straight rounds. Excluding
the loss against Chimaev, Du Plessis considers Israel
Adesanya the most technically sound opponent he has faced so
far. Du Plessis was losing against Adesanya while defending his
title in 2024, before he turned things around and submitted “The
Last Stylebender.”
In terms of sheer grit, Du Plessis considers Brad
Tavares and Sean
Strickland his toughest opponents so far. Du Plessis has won
two title fights against Strickland, who is known for defensive
striking. Du Plessis notes that while Strickland rolled with his
punches, Tavares kept standing despite absorbing some flush
shots.
Technical and Tough
“Obviously, the Khamzat fight was one that I lost pretty
significantly,” Du Plessis told Fight Forecast. “But for me, that wasn’t a
fight. Let’s take that one out of the equation… Adesanya was the
best guy that I have faced. His timing, his speed, the power he
kicks with. Even takedown defense-wise. He was the best technical
guy that I have ever faced. Toughest guy has to be Brad Tavares or
Sean Strickland. It just has to be. Just in terms of the amount of
shots they took and just kept standing. Strickland takes the
punches but rolls with it. Tavares took some solid shots and just
kept standing.”