Best Of Updated 15 July 2026

Best Dricus Du Plessis Fights: His Rise to Middleweight Champion

Dricus du Plessis’s rise to the UFC middleweight title wasn’t built on one signature knockout — it was built on winning a string of genuinely competitive fights against three former champions, back to back to back. Here’s the run that made him South Africa’s first UFC champion, and the fights that explain why this Saturday’s card against Kamaru Usman matters so much for what comes next.

def. Sean Strickland — UFC 297 (Jan 2024)

A five-round split decision that made Du Plessis the first South African to win a UFC championship.

Five-round title fight
Split decision across a genuinely close, high-volume war
First South African UFC champion in history

Why we recommend it

This is the night the whole run was building to — a title fight decided by volume and will as much as clean technique, which is Du Plessis's fight in a nutshell.

What we disliked

The split decision divided fans and pundits, with a real case that Strickland did enough to keep the belt.

def. Israel Adesanya — UFC 305 (Aug 2024)

First title defense, away from home in Perth against a former two-time champion — finished by rear-naked choke in round four.

First successful title defense
Submission finish of a former two-time champion
Fought in Adesanya's corner of the world, not his own

Why we recommend it

Beating a former champion on the road, by finish, in a first title defense is about as strong a statement as a new champion can make.

What we disliked

Adesanya, a full weight class up in experience at the elite level, had his own vulnerable stretch at the time — the win reads bigger with hindsight than it might have looked on the judges' cards beforehand.

def. Robert Whittaker — UFC 291 (Aug 2023)

The split-decision win over a two-time former champion that built Du Plessis into the No. 1 contender and set up the Strickland title shot.

Win over a two-time former UFC champion
Split decision in a genuine 50-50 fight
The result that made the title shot happen

Why we recommend it

Without this win, none of the rest of the run exists — it's the fight that turned Du Plessis from a name into a title contender.

What we disliked

It was close enough that plenty of scorecards had it the other way — nothing about the performance was dominant.

Also Worth a Look

#	Site	Note
4	def. Sean Strickland (rematch) — UFC 312 (Feb 2025)	Unanimous decision, second successful title defense — a cleaner, more comfortable version of the first fight.
5	lost to Khamzat Chimaev — UFC 319 (Aug 2025)	Unanimous decision loss that cost him the title — controlled for over 21 minutes in a one-sided grappling clinic, and the reason this Saturday's fight with Usman matters so much.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dricus Du Plessis still the UFC middleweight champion?

No — he lost the title to Khamzat Chimaev by unanimous decision at UFC 319 in August 2025.

What was Du Plessis's best win?

The Sean Strickland win at UFC 297 carries the most weight — it's the night he actually won the title — but the Adesanya finish at UFC 305 is arguably the most impressive performance.

How can Du Plessis get back to a title shot?

A win over Kamaru Usman this Saturday at UFC Oklahoma City puts him right back at the front of the queue.

Where can I watch Du Plessis fight this week?

He headlines UFC Oklahoma City against Kamaru Usman on Saturday 18 July — our full how-to-watch guide, including a free stream, is on the site.