The middleweight title image now seems crystal clear after Dricus Du Plessis took care of enterprise within the greatest combat of his profession so far.
Within the function bout on the primary card of UFC 290, Du Plessis (20-2 MMA, 6-0 UFC) stepped into the octagon at T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas to face former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 15-5 UFC). Regardless of coming into as a sizeable underdog, Du Plessis’ arms led to a TKO end at 2:23 of the second spherical.
The fighters didn’t waste a lot time earlier than stepping into the motion, however Whittaker was a lot sharper within the preliminary exchanges. Exhibiting off his well-rounded skills, the previous champ took Du Plessis down in the course of the spherical, though they rapidly returned to their ft to proceed buying and selling strikes.
Du Plessis then started touchdown properly in combos and dragged Whittaker to the mat with a headlock. On the bottom, he sliced open Whittaker with heavy floor and pound strikes to place a stamp on the opening spherical.
Early in Spherical 2, Whittaker landed heavy punches and provided a tough head kick that was partially blocked. However Du Plessis didn’t again down. He weathered the preliminary storm and waited for his probability to unleash strikes. When the time was proper, he discovered the opening he wished, and dropped Whittaker with a pointy proper hand.
Whittaker fell to a knee, and slowly returned to his ft. Du Plessis then swarmed him with punches upstairs and to the physique, inflicting Whittaker to drop down once more towards the fence. The referee stepped in to cease the motion after Whittaker didn’t enhance his place, and the celebration for Du Plessis was on.
BOOK THE TITLE SHOT @DricusduPlessis finishes Rob Whittaker within the second at #UFC290! pic.twitter.com/8rArC8mdRX
— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2023
After the combat, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was proven on the published speaking to UFC president Dana White. A second later, Adesanya entered the cage throughout Du Plessis’ post-fight interview Joe Rogan, creating an intense second between the 2 fighters.
ADESANYA ENTERS THE OCTAGON WITH DU PLESSIS #UFC290 pic.twitter.com/WBBsXOEuyE
— UFC (@ufc) July 9, 2023
The verbal exchanges have been heated, crammed with expletives and racial remarks, however the two fighters didn’t come to blows. It’s obvious that that is the matchup the promotion needs subsequent for the middleweight title.
“Stillknocks” has gained all six of his UFC appearances, together with three consecutive stoppages. On the opposite finish, Whittaker’s momentum is halted after a unanimous choice win over Marvin Vettori in his earlier outing.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 290 outcomes embrace:
Dricus Du Plessis def. Robert Whittaker through TKO (punches) – Spherical 2, 2:23
Dan Hooker def. Jalin Turner through break up choice (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Bo Nickal def. Val Woodburn through TKO (punches) – Spherical 1, 0:38
Robbie Lawler def. Niko Value through knockout (punches) – Spherical 1, 0:38
Tatsuro Taira def. Edgar Chairez through unanimous choice (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
Denise Gomes def. Yazmin Jauregui through TKO (punches) – Spherical 1, 0:20
Alonzo Menifield def. Jimmy Crute through submission (guillotine choke) – Spherical 2, 1:55
Vitor Petrino def. Marcin Prachnio through submission (arm-triangle choke) – Spherical 3, 3:42
Cameron Saaiman def. Terrence Mitchell through TKO (punches) – Spherical 1, 3:10
Jesus Aguilar def. Shannon Ross through knockout (punch) – Spherical 1, 0:17
Esteban Ribovics def. Kamuela Kirk through unanimous choice (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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