Tag: dricus du plessis

What’s Next After UFC 311? Full Confirmed UFC 312 Main Card For Sydney On Feb. 8

UFC 311 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia. The promotion was in Los Angeles this past week, where the Intuit Dome played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its opening numbered event of the new year. Of note […]

UFC 311 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia.

The promotion was in Los Angeles this past week, where the Intuit Dome played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its opening numbered event of the new year. Of note were headline wins for Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili, as well as important victories for Ji?í Procházka, Jailton Almeida, and Reinier de Ridder.

While the aftermath of the Jan. 18 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the lightweight title picture to the middleweight championship conversation.

At UFC 312, set for the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney on Feb. 8, reigning kingpin Dricus Du Plessis will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 185-pound gold. After following his crowning against Sean Strickland with a retention opposite Israel Adesanya, the South African will next run it back with Strickland.

Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as two-time strawweight champ Zhang Weili looks to defend her gold for the third time since winning it back at the expense of Carla Esparza in 2022. In her way of a continued reign will be the undefeated Tatiana Suarez.

Tafa, Crute, Matthews Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 312

Before Du Plessis and Weili defend their belts, a number of local names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 312 card.

That includes heavyweight powerhouse Justin Tafa. Against undefeated newcomer Tallison Teixeira, the Australian-Samoan will look to bounce back from a decision loss to Karl Williams last March and return to the knockout ways that saw him sleep Austen Lane, Parker Porter, and Harry Hunsucker during a four-fight unbeaten streak between 2021 and 2023.

Prior to that, another home favorite will be in action as light heavyweight Jimmy Crute returns almost two years on from a submission loss to Alonzo Menifield. “The Brute” hasn’t tasted victory since a 2020 KO of Modestas Bukauskas that left him 12-1 and among the most promising prospects at 205 pounds. To revive his career amid a four-fight winless run, the 28-year-old must stall the charge of former LFA champion Rodolfo Bellato.

And opening the UFC 312 main card will be Jake Matthews, a longtime Australian prospect who has failed to live up to his promise thus far. “The Celtic Kid” has exchanged wins and losses across six fights since his most recent winning streak in 2020, and against Francisco Prado next month, he’ll be looking to build some momentum following a decision victory over Phil Rowe last time out.

Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over another Aussie in Jack Jenkins, who is slated to top the prelims against Gabriel Santos.

See below for the full UFC 312 card, as it stands.

Main Card:

  • Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Sean Strickland (middleweight championship)
  • Zhang Weili (C) vs. Tatiana Suarez (strawweight championship)
  • Justin Tafa vs. Tallison Teixeira (heavyweight)
  • Jimmy Crute vs. Rodolfo Bellato (light heavyweight)
  • Jake Matthews vs. Francisco Prado (welterweight)

Preliminary Card:

  • Jack Jenkins vs. Gabriel Santos (featherweight)
  • Cody Haddon vs. Aleksandre Topuria (bantamweight)
  • Tom Nolan vs. Viacheslav Borshchev (lightweight)
  • HyunSung Park vs. Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (flyweight)

Early Preliminary Card:

  • Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli (lightweight)
  • Kevin Jousset vs. Jonathan Micallef (welterweight)
  • Wang Cong vs. Bruna Brasil (flyweight)
  • Rongzhu vs. Kody Steele (lightweight)
Justin Tafa
Image: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Who is UFC Champion Dricus Du Plessis’ Smokin’ Hot Fiancée, Vasti Spiller?

Who is UFC Champion Dricus Du Plessis' Smokin' Hot Fiancée, Vasti Spiller?Sorry ladies, Dricus Du Plessis is officially off the market. While celebrating his 31st birthday on January 14, the…

Who is UFC Champion Dricus Du Plessis' Smokin' Hot Fiancée, Vasti Spiller?

Sorry ladies, Dricus Du Plessis is officially off the market.

While celebrating his 31st birthday on January 14, the reigning UFC middleweight world champion made it an extra special day when he asked his girlfriend, Vasti Spiller, to marry him in front of their friends and family.

Du Plessis is scheduled to return to the Octagon on February 8 and defend his 185-pound title against the man he took it from over a year ago, Sean Strickland. But before the two middleweight stars headlined a loaded UFC 312 card in The Land Down Under, we’ll take a close look at the woman who managed to capture the heart of South America’s most prominent mixed martial arts.

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Raised in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Spiller got her education at North-West University in Potchefstroom. After college, she took part in a photography internet and worked as a social media manager for a start-up stateside. At 24, she authored a children’s book titled The Art of Loving which she wrote to help children overcome trauma and emotional scars.

Today, she is the owner of Baruch Photography, a studio that primarily focuses on couples portraits.

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Outside of her love for photography, Spiller is a consummate athlete and even works as a coach at CIT Boxing Studio in Pretoria, South Africa, the gym that Du Plessis calls home.

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Dricus Du Plessis’ Fiancée is also an avid philanthropist

Aside from her accolades in the gym, photography, and writing, Spiller is also known for her work in philanthropy. She currently serves as an ambassador for the B Love Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing food and medicine to those in need. All proceeds from her book were donated to the foundation.

Spiller and Du Plessis have reportedly been dating for the last year and a half and she can regularly be seen attending UFC events and celebrating with ‘Stillknocks’ inside the Octagon.

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UFC Middleweight Doesn’t Give Dricus Du Plessis A Chance Against Alex Pereira: ‘He Can Beat DDP Easily’

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is set to return at UFC 312 next month where he will put the title on the line for a second time. “Stillknocks” certainly isn’t short on contenders at 185-pounds even when looking past his next challenge, a rematch with Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia. However, there is always […]

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is set to return at UFC 312 next month where he will put the title on the line for a second time. “Stillknocks” certainly isn’t short on contenders at 185-pounds even when looking past his next challenge, a rematch with Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia.

However, there is always going to be talk and debate around champions moving up or down a weight class to face another titleholder in the promotion and this is something that has interested Du Plessis in the past. It also just so happens that the current champion in the division above him is the former middleweight king also.

Many fans expect to see Alex Pereira defend the light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev in his next outing inside the Octagon. The only exception might be that because “Poatan” has become such a star for the promotion, they could look to capitalize on putting together a super fight for the Brazilian.

Middleweight contender Caio Borralho recently trained alongside Pereira and used that experience to weigh-in on how a potential matchup between him and Du Plessis would play out if they end up meeting at some stage. He told Submission Radio that whilst the debate would change if you factor Khamzat Chimaev into the conversation, he believes that Pereira would be a tough style clash for “DDP”.

“I think he can beat DDP easily,” Borralho told Submission Radio. “I think very easily he can beat DDP. I think Khamzat (Chimaev) is a different story because of the grappling, but ‘Poatan’ is definitely getting better at defending takedowns. He’s a big guy, very big guy. It would be hard for Khamzat to keep him down.

“He made a good choice moving up to the light heavyweight division. … I think he can knock DDP out really easily because DDP commits a lot of mistakes in his fights and a lot of openings,” Borralho said. “If you leave even a small opening with a guy like Alex, you’re going to get knocked out.”

Caio Borralho: Alex Pereira Would Easily Knock Out Dricus Du Plessis

Caio Borralho: Alex Pereira Would Easily Knock Out Dricus Du PlessisCaio Borralho doesn’t think Dricus Du Plessis would stand a chance against Alex Pereira. Du Plessis, the UFC’s reigning…

Caio Borralho: Alex Pereira Would Easily Knock Out Dricus Du Plessis

Caio Borralho doesn’t think Dricus Du Plessis would stand a chance against Alex Pereira.

Du Plessis, the UFC’s reigning middleweight world champion, already has a pretty full 2025. Aside from his scheduled rematch against Sean Strickland at UFC 312 on February 8, ‘DDP’ will also be tasked with taking out undefeated Chechen monster Khamzat Chimaev, should he go two-up on ‘Tarzan’ next month.

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However, that hasn’t stopped rumors of his potential move up to light heavyweight for a shot at champ-champ status against 205’s top dog, Alex Pereira.

As intriguing as that fight sounds, rising 185-pound contender Caio Borralho is confident that ‘Poatan’ would easily pick apart Du Plessis’ unorthodox style should the two ever meet inside the Octagon.

“I think he can knock DDP out really easily, ’cause DDP makes a lot of mistakes in his fights, you know? A lot of openings and all that,” Borralho said during an appearance on Submission Radio. “And if you leave even a small opening with a guy like Alex, you know, I think you’re gonna get knocked out.”

Magomed Ankalaev is likely next for Alex Pereira

After defending his light heavyweight title three times in 2024, scoring a trio of earth-shattering knockouts against Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree, Alex Pereira has not yet booked his first bout of 2025. However, all signs indicate he will square off with the division’s top-ranked contender, Magomed Ankalaev.

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Even if ‘Poatan’ recently dismissed him as the next man in line.

Meanwhile, ‘DDP’ will look to land another win over Sean Strickland next month after snatching away the middleweight title from the outspoken American last January via a closely contested split decision victory.

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Are you at all interested in a superfight between Du Plessis and Pereira, or should both fighters stay in their respective lanes?

‘No One Beats DDP’ – Fans Debate Khamzat Chimaev Being Betting Favorite To End 2025 As UFC MW Champion

The odds are in for the UFC’s champions in 2025, and the betting line for one particular division has caused a stir… As always, titles are expected to change hands on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the new year. DraftKings has the middleweight class as one in which a new kingpin could be crowned. […]

The odds are in for the UFC’s champions in 2025, and the betting line for one particular division has caused a stir…

As always, titles are expected to change hands on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the new year. DraftKings has the middleweight class as one in which a new kingpin could be crowned.

Opening odds for who will have UFC gold in their possession in 12 months’ time recently emerged, with the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev being favorite to be occupying the middleweight throne by the end of 2025.

As it stands, he’d have to unseat Dricus Du Plessis to do so. The South African will enter the year with the crown after a 2024 in which he took it from Sean Strickland and defended it against Israel Adesanya.

The odds have “Stillknocks” as the second favorite to finish 2025 as champ at +120, being pipped to the post by “Borz’s” -200 line.

That, in addition to the figures beside names like Caio Borralho, Sean Strickland, Nassourdine Imavov and Adesanya, have split opinion in the MMA community online.

The first chance to dent Du Plessis’ chances of another Christmas as king has fallen to Strickland, who is set to face the South African in a rematch next February. The pair will headline UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia 13 months on from their close five-round contest in Canada.

UFC Champ Dricus Du Plessis Takes Training to Extreme Depths: Grapples with Shark

Dricus Du Plessis SharkDricus Du Plessis, the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion, has taken his training regimen to shocking new depths as he…

Dricus Du Plessis Shark

Dricus Du Plessis, the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion, has taken his training regimen to shocking new depths as he prepares for his upcoming title defense against Sean Strickland. The South African athlete brought in a shark.

Dricus Du Plessis Vs. the Shark

In a move that’s sure to make waves in the MMA community, Dricus Du Plessis was recently spotted wrestling with an unlikely sparring partner – a shark. The South African fighter, known for his unorthodox training methods, shared a photo on social media showing him grappling with the ocean predator during his training camp.

“Brought in some new training partners for camp, this one didn’t make the cut.”

Dricus Du Plessis Shark
Dricus Du Plessis Shark 2

While many fighters stick to traditional training partners, Du Plessis seems intent on leaving no stone – or in this case, no fin – unturned. This shark encounter adds to the growing list of unconventional techniques employed by the champion and his team, which reportedly includes the use of tasers and electric stun batons to correct mistakes during training sessions.

It is reminiscent of Muhammad Ali’s monologue about preparing for a fight with alligators and whales:

“I done something new for this fight. I done wrestled with an alligator. That’s right. I have wrestled with an alligator. I done tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail. That’s bad! Only last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick! I’m so mean I make medicine sick!”

As Du Plessis gears up for his next UFC title defense, it’s clear he’s willing to dive into dangerous waters – both figuratively and literally – to maintain his edge in the octagon. Whether this shark-wrestling stunt will translate to success in the cage remains to be seen.