Jan 20, 2024; Toronto, Canada, USA; Dricus Du Plessis (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Sean Strickland (red glove) during UFC 297 at ScotiaBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

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Dricus Du Plessis Comments On Former Opponents Critique Of His Fighting Style

Dricus Du Plessis responds to his former opponent's criticism, defending his unique fighting style with confidence and flair.

Fighting styles in MMA usually follow a clear pattern: crisp striking, clean wrestling, or smooth jiu-jitsu. But every once in a while, someone comes along and throws the textbook out the window. And this is where Dricus Du Plessis shines. He is the UFC middleweight champion who fights like he is playing a video game with broken controls, yet somehow keeps winning.

Before him, fighters like Tony Ferguson and Diego Sanchez made weird work, turning unconventional approaches into victory after victory. But DDP has taken it to a whole new level. He has beat some of the most technically sound fighters in UFC history.

Also Read: Max Holloway Backs This Fighter For Bruce Buffers’ Iconic Introduction!

Former Champions Can’t Handle The Chaos

When former champions Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker recently got together, they couldn’t help but scratch their heads over Du Plessis’s style. Dricus Du Plessis deferated both these fighters. He TKO’d Rovert Whittaker and submitted Israel Adesanya.

Adesnaya, known for his precise striking, called DDP “the best shit fighter in the world.” Most fighters would take that as an insult, but Du Plessis wears it like a medal of honor. After all, this “shit fighter” got both of them.

“When I saw Izzy and Whittaker saying they don’t know how this [my fighting style] works, ‘What is going on?’ I finished both these guys. That was something good because that means they still haven’t figured out how to beat me. That means they still haven’t figured out what went wrong,” Du Plessis told Ariel Helwani.

Du Plessis pointed out something fascinating. If they are still confused about how he fights, they still haven’t figured out how to beat him. The South African champion particularly appreciated Whittaker’s more respectful take, noting that ‘Bobby Knuckles’ at least acknowledged there’s a method to his madness.

Dricus Du Plessis’ Legacy

With victories over both Adesanya and Whittaker, Du Plessis stands at an interesting crossroads. His next fight might be against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, a challenge that could cement his place among middleweight greats. While he is not quite at Anderson Silva’s level of dominance yet, he has faced tougher competition in his rise. Plus, he has done it all while fighting in a style that makes MMA purists pull their hair out.

Dricus Du Plessis’ success raises an interesting question: What if everything we thought we knew about “proper” fighting technique was wrong? His combination of raw power, relentless pressure, and unpredictable movement has turned high-level MMA into something that looks more like a bar fight. But hey, if it works, it works. As the saying goes: styles make fights, and sometimes the best style is no style at all!

(Image Credit: Dan Hamilton – Imagn Images)

Dricus Du Plessis

Israel Adesanya

Robert Whittaker

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!