Dricus Du Plessis Explains Why Kamaru Usman Is the Fight He Wants
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has explained why he is interested in a potential showdown with former welterweight king Kamaru Usman, arguing that the matchup would prove more about his overall skill set than another fight against a traditional striker.
Du Plessis, who has established himself as the top fighter at 185 pounds, recently addressed criticism from fans who believe he should face top contender Nassourdine Imavov instead. While the South African made it clear he has no issue with fighting Imavov, he believes a clash with Usman presents a different kind of challenge.
According to Du Plessis, he has already demonstrated his striking credentials against some of the division’s best stand-up fighters, including defeating Sean Strickland twice in championship bouts.
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Du Plessis Wants to Showcase His Complete MMA Game
The reigning champion pointed to Usman’s wrestling pedigree and all-around mixed martial arts ability as the main reason the matchup appeals to him.
Usman began his UFC career at middleweight before dropping to welterweight, where he became one of the most dominant champions in the promotion’s history. He also owns a victory over Sean Strickland from earlier in his career and pushed Khamzat Chimaev to a highly competitive decision when they met at middleweight.
For Du Plessis, facing another elite striker would not answer many questions about his abilities. Instead, he wants an opponent capable of testing him in every phase of mixed martial arts.
The champion believes a fight with Usman would allow him to showcase the evolution of his game, particularly his wrestling and grappling, areas that critics have often overlooked during his rise to the top of the division.
Whether the UFC ultimately books Du Plessis against Usman or opts for another contender remains to be seen. However, the South African’s comments make one thing clear: he is eager to prove that he is more than just an effective striker and wants to demonstrate that he can handle one of the sport’s most accomplished wrestlers as well.
With Du Plessis continuing to search for new challenges after successful title defenses, a potential meeting with Usman would undoubtedly be one of the most intriguing fights available in the middleweight division.
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