Tag: dricus du plessis

Caio Borralho Trashes Dricus Du Plessis: “Bad technique, bad gameplan, crazy style”

Caio Borralho Trashes Dricus Du Plessis: "Bad technique, bad gameplan, crazy style"It may not be pretty, but Dricus Du Plessis always gets the job done. From the moment he first…

Caio Borralho Trashes Dricus Du Plessis: "Bad technique, bad gameplan, crazy style"

It may not be pretty, but Dricus Du Plessis always gets the job done.

From the moment he first stepped inside the Octagon four years ago, ‘Stillknocks’ has been slapped with criticism. Whether it be his awkward style or questionable cardio, everyone had a reason to suggest that ‘DDP’ would never be anything more than a mid-carder.

Fast forward to August 2024 and not only is Du Plessis the middleweight world champion, but he just submitted one of the greatest 185’ers in the history of the sport, Israel Adesanya.

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Adesanya

But despite all his success, there are still plenty of detractors. That includes rising contender Caio Borralho who made some disparaging remarks about Du Plessis ahead of his Fight Night headliner inside The APEX this Saturday.

”It’s crazy… I always bet against him [Du Plessis],” Borralho said during Wednesday’s media day. “It’s crazy how bad he is, but how he makes it work… Props to him. Man, I just need to congratulate him because, even with bad technique, bad gameplan, crazy style, he always makes it work. He is winning, he is undefeated in the UFC, so he deserves the spot where he is right now” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Du Plessis

Caio Borralho not thinking about a title fight with Dricus Du Plessis just yet

Borralho is currently sitting outside the middleweight top 10, but if he can secure a big win over Jared Cannonier, he’ll thrust himself into the top five and establish himself as a legitimate contender in one of the UFC’s most talent-rich divisions.

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But ‘The Natural’ isn’t getting ahead of himself just yet. He knows he has a tough test ahead before he can start thinking about a shot at UFC gold.

“I just think about Jared [Cannonier], I don’t want to think about anything else, but looking forward to get this fight,” Borralho added.

Caio Borralho Trashes Dricus Du Plessis: “Bad technique, bad gameplan, crazy style”

Caio Borralho Trashes Dricus Du Plessis: "Bad technique, bad gameplan, crazy style"It may not be pretty, but Dricus Du Plessis always gets the job done. From the moment he first…

Caio Borralho Trashes Dricus Du Plessis: "Bad technique, bad gameplan, crazy style"

It may not be pretty, but Dricus Du Plessis always gets the job done.

From the moment he first stepped inside the Octagon four years ago, ‘Stillknocks’ has been slapped with criticism. Whether it be his awkward style or questionable cardio, everyone had a reason to suggest that ‘DDP’ would never be anything more than a mid-carder.

Fast forward to August 2024 and not only is Du Plessis the middleweight world champion, but he just submitted one of the greatest 185’ers in the history of the sport, Israel Adesanya.

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Adesanya

But despite all his success, there are still plenty of detractors. That includes rising contender Caio Borralho who made some disparaging remarks about Du Plessis ahead of his Fight Night headliner inside The APEX this Saturday.

”It’s crazy… I always bet against him [Du Plessis],” Borralho said during Wednesday’s media day. “It’s crazy how bad he is, but how he makes it work… Props to him. Man, I just need to congratulate him because, even with bad technique, bad gameplan, crazy style, he always makes it work. He is winning, he is undefeated in the UFC, so he deserves the spot where he is right now” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Du Plessis

Caio Borralho not thinking about a title fight with Dricus Du Plessis just yet

Borralho is currently sitting outside the middleweight top 10, but if he can secure a big win over Jared Cannonier, he’ll thrust himself into the top five and establish himself as a legitimate contender in one of the UFC’s most talent-rich divisions.

01j5v19k9z0z35kk45re

But ‘The Natural’ isn’t getting ahead of himself just yet. He knows he has a tough test ahead before he can start thinking about a shot at UFC gold.

“I just think about Jared [Cannonier], I don’t want to think about anything else, but looking forward to get this fight,” Borralho added.

Sean Strickland On Being Arrested In South Africa & Taking A Fight To Avoid Jail

Sean Strickland recently recounted the tale of getting arrested during his time in South Africa and how that pivotal incident reignited his MMA career. The former UFC middleweight champion has earned as much attention for his fighting skill inside the Octagon as for his ability to spark controversy beyond it. With his audacious and unfiltered […]

Continue Reading Sean Strickland On Being Arrested In South Africa & Taking A Fight To Avoid Jail at MMA News.

Sean Strickland recently recounted the tale of getting arrested during his time in South Africa and how that pivotal incident reignited his MMA career.

The former UFC middleweight champion has earned as much attention for his fighting skill inside the Octagon as for his ability to spark controversy beyond it. With his audacious and unfiltered personality, he’s become a well-known figure in the MMA world, regularly voicing provocative opinions on a variety of commonplace issues.

Strickland has consistently found himself at the heart of controversy, entangled in several scandals over the years. From almost being yanked from his short-notice title fight against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293 in Australia, allegedly for assaulting a civilian at Bondi Beach, to receiving a stern warning from UFC CEO Dana White that he could be deported from Canada before his UFC 297 bout with Dricus Du Plessis due to his polarizing views on the LGBTQ community—the 33-year-old Californian’s antics have often put him on thin ice.

Strickland Reveals He Ended Retirement To Fight In South Africa To Pay Off Bail Bond

During a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Strickland was asked why he isn’t keen on the idea of having his rematch against UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in the titleholder’s homeland of South Africa. “Tarzan” revealed that he visited the country long ago and wasn’t fond of it, which is why he prefers the fight to happen in the United States instead.

The American went on to share that during his time in Durban, he was arrested by the local police for reasons unmentioned and found himself in urgent need of cash to post bail. With limited options, he realized that the quickest way to earn the money was by taking a fight, despite the fact that he had already retired at that point.

Strickland disclosed that he accepted a last-minute bout against Donavin Hawkey at the King of the Cage: Platinum event in November 2010 to quickly secure some cash.

“Funny enough, I actually got arrested and had just retired from fighting. I had to pay a bail bondsman, so it was either pay the bail or go to jail. If you need quick cash, what do you do? So, I went and fought this guy named Donavin Hawkey on two weeks’ notice in South Africa just to pay the bondsman not go to jail.“

“Tarzan” went on to mention that the fight reignited his passion for MMA.

“That’s literally how I got back into MMA. I was bored, broke, living in gyms, and I’m 19 years old, riding a bicycle like a loser, thinking, ‘I’m done with this sh*t.’ Then I got arrested. I was like, ‘Oh sh*t, well, I guess you have to pay the bail bondsman or go back to jail.’”

Strickland seized the 185-pound title from Adesanya last September, but his reign was short-lived, as Du Plessis dethroned him this past January. Following his decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June, Strickland is eager for a rematch with “Stillknocks”.

However, his position as the top contender is precarious, as the winner of the upcoming UFC 308 clash between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev could easily leapfrog him in the race for the title shot.

Continue Reading Sean Strickland On Being Arrested In South Africa & Taking A Fight To Avoid Jail at MMA News.

Brendan Schaub Responds to Slam from Dricus Du Plessis

Brendan Schaub Responds to Slam from Dricus Du PlessisEx-UFC heavyweight fighter Brendan Schaub offered a response to Dricus Du Plessis. ‘Stillknocks’ was successful in his first defense…

Brendan Schaub Responds to Slam from Dricus Du Plessis

Ex-UFC heavyweight fighter Brendan Schaub offered a response to Dricus Du Plessis.

‘Stillknocks’ was successful in his first defense of the middleweight title at UFC 305, scoring a fourth-round submission victory over two-time titleholder Israel Adesanya. It was a rather shocking turn of events considering insiders far and wide heavily favored Adesanya to take back the middleweight strap and kickstart a historic third title reign.

Brendan Schaub responds to Dricus Du Plessis

That includes fighter-turned-comedian Brendan Schaub who boldly predicted that Adesanya was going to “beat the sh*t” out of Du Plessis.

Not long after the belt was wrapped around his waist, Du Plessis hopped on social media to throw some shade at Schaub’s prediction and take a dig at the former fighter’s legacy, or lack thereof.

“@BrendanSchaub great prediction.. You has been JK haha you’ve never been,” Du Plessis wrote.”

Not long after ‘DDP’ slammed him, Schaub delivered a much classier response compared to that of the South African sensation.

“Fair play,” Schaub replied. “I’d be mad too. DDP is a monster.”

The Contenders are already lining up for dricus du Plessis

With the win over Adesanya, Dricus Du Plessis remains undefeated inside the Octagon, going 8-0 with a 75% finish rate. Next, ‘DDP’ is expected to rematch the man he took the title from in January, Sean Strickland.

Strickland

Tarzan’ established himself as the next man in line with a decisive victory over Paulo Costa in June. Meanwhile, Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev will meet at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi to secure their own spot in line and ensure that ‘Stillknocks’ stays plenty busy at 185.

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Teddy Atlas Breaks Down UFC 305 Main Event: ‘What He Has Is The Same Thing That Usyk Has!”

Teddy Atlas recently offered his analysis of the UFC middleweight title showdown between reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, which headlined UFC 305. Du Plessis defended his title last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, securing a dramatic fourth-round victory over Adesanya with a rear-naked choke. The fight was a […]

Continue Reading Teddy Atlas Breaks Down UFC 305 Main Event: ‘What He Has Is The Same Thing That Usyk Has!” at MMA News.

Teddy Atlas recently offered his analysis of the UFC middleweight title showdown between reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya, which headlined UFC 305.

Du Plessis defended his title last weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, securing a dramatic fourth-round victory over Adesanya with a rear-naked choke.

The fight was a fiercely competitive affair, with both fighters pushing the pace from the moment the bell rang. The first round featured a measured exchange of strikes from both parties, but it was in the second round that ‘Stillknocks’ began to assert his dominance through grappling, securing multiple takedowns despite Adesanya’s stubborn defense.

As the third round began, the challenger seemed on the ropes, but he quickly found his groove, unleashing a barrage of powerful head and body shots that momentarily swung the momentum in his favor.

“The Last Stylebender” came out strong in the fourth, seemingly on the verge of securing a knockout, but the South African was quick to counter. With a sudden surge, he unleashed a relentless series of strikes that paved the way for a flawlessly timed takedown. In a flash, he secured Adesanya’s back, locking in the decisive submission.

Atlas Say Du Plessis Exemplifies ‘Never Judge A Book By Its Cover’

During a recent episode of THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas, the legendary boxing trainer broke down the Du Plessis vs. Adesanya clash. Atlas showered the middleweight champion with praise, noting how Du Plessis has perfected the art of executing the basics in his own unconventional way. He emphasized that Du Plessis consistently outperforms his opponents’ expectations, proving to be far more formidable than they anticipate.

“Even though Du Plessis had shown what looked like fatigue earlier, he always keeps going,” Atlas said. “It always seems like he’s out of gas, and then he’s not out of gas. He learned from the earlier attempts to get that choke hold, which Adesanya survived and escaped at least two times, I believe, earlier. But Du Plessis got the third shot at it, and this time, I think a combination of Adesanya being a little worn out and Du Plessis making sure to capitalize on the opportunity made the difference. But at the end of the day, the first thing I have to say about Du Plessis is that he’s one of those enigmas, one of those guys, one of those rarities where the simple and only accurate way to put it is that he’s better than he looks.”

Atlas further added that “Stillknocks” possesses a relentless drive to win that reminds him of the hunger seen in former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk.

“There’s nothing dynamic-looking about what he does until he does it—until he gets the end result. Up until then, it’s very deceiving and misleading. He is the perfect example of that old saying, ‘Never judge a book by its cover,’ and he’s physically strong. He’s better in technical areas and subtle areas than meets the eye—he really is. And there’s one other quality that I think describes him: it’s a simple quality, but it’s not something you see every day. No matter how much talent someone has, what he has is the same thing that Usyk has in boxing—an ability to win, a drive, determination. A lot of people have that, but he’s got that plus an uncanny way to know how to win.”

Continue Reading Teddy Atlas Breaks Down UFC 305 Main Event: ‘What He Has Is The Same Thing That Usyk Has!” at MMA News.

Anthony Smith Shares Theory On Alex Pereira Pondering Middleweight Return To Fight Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You Beat My Friend!’

UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes Alex Pereira’s middleweight tease could derive from a desire to “stick up” for Israel Adesanya. Adesanya recently returned to action in the main event of UFC 305, a pay-per-view event staged at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The former two-time champ headlined alongside Dricus Du Plessis, competing […]

Continue Reading Anthony Smith Shares Theory On Alex Pereira Pondering Middleweight Return To Fight Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You Beat My Friend!’ at MMA News.

UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes Alex Pereira’s middleweight tease could derive from a desire to “stick up” for Israel Adesanya.

Adesanya recently returned to action in the main event of UFC 305, a pay-per-view event staged at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The former two-time champ headlined alongside Dricus Du Plessis, competing for the South African’s gold.

“The Last Stylebender” was unsuccessful in his bid for another reign, falling via rear-naked choke submission in the third round. By all accounts, a rematch with Sean Strickland looks the likeliest next task for the reigning titleholder.

But one man caused a stir with his Instagram post in the aftermath, as Pereira teased a possible return to the division he once ruled over to do battle with “Stillknocks.”

Given that “Poatan” has previously dismissed talk of another drop to that weight and instead pondered a heavyweight venture, many were surprised by the post. One man who has long gone back and forth with the Brazilian, however, thinks he might know the reason behind it…

Smith: Pereira’s ‘Brotherhood’ With Adesanya Motivating Possible Pursuit Of Du Plessis

During ESPN’s UFC 305 Post Show this past weekend, the panel of Smith, Din Thomas, and Brett Okamoto reflected on the main event in Perth and looked ahead to what could be next for the champ and unsuccessful challenger.

In terms of the victorious South African, they made note of Pereira’s social media tease. And although plenty have dismissed it as a playful post, “Lionheart” believes the reigning light heavyweight king could be serious.

In terms of the reasons why Pereira could go back on his word not to return to 185 pounds, Smith thinks the Brazilian could want to make Du Plessis pay for beating his longtime rival.

“Part of me kind of believes he’s a little bit serious. I don’t think he’s any bigger now than when he was at light heavyweight last time,” Smith said. “I feel like there’s a sense of Alex wanting to kind of stick up for Israel. They have this weird connection, this weird brotherhood, this unusual friendship. They’re moulded together for the rest of their careers.

“I feel like that’s him (Pereira), ‘Alright, you beat my friend, or someone that I have history with. So now I’m coming down and I’ll take care of it.’ That’s kind of how it felt,” Smith continued. “Almost like, ‘We have this thing going on, but none of you can mess with us.’ That’s kind of how it was.”

It remains to be seen whether the matchup will enter the realm of possibility anytime soon. Both Du Plessis and his coach have green lit a showdown with Pereira, but only if it provides the South African with the opportunity to achieve two-division glory himself.

Continue Reading Anthony Smith Shares Theory On Alex Pereira Pondering Middleweight Return To Fight Dricus Du Plessis: ‘You Beat My Friend!’ at MMA News.