Las Vegas, NV — It was another big win for South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 285, as he took Derek Brunson to the brink before Brunson’s corner threw in the towel following the second round.
On any other night, Du Plessis vs. Brunson would have been a Fight of the Night winner. Unfortunately for Du Plessis, Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Geoff Neal came along later in the evening. But regardless, the win was a memorable one for Dricus Du Plessis (19-2), a former KSW champion in two weight classes.
It was nothing he hadn’t expected, mind you.
“Nothing surprised me in there. I said it during Fight Week, during media day. In the first round, Derek Brunson always comes out banging in that first round,” Du Plessis told media outlets including Cageside Press. “And I was ready for that. I needed to match his pace because I knew in the second round, I’m still going to be there and in the third round, I’ll be there too. He won’t be there anymore.”
Du Plessis was very complimentary of opponent Brunson following the match-up, but added that he felt the veteran break in the fight. “He’s an incredible fighter, he’s always game, he’s very strong, he hits hard. But that’s exactly it. He came in with that fire in that first round, and when I continued with that pace in the second, I could see it broke his spirit.”
Following his loss, Brunson hinted at calling it a career in a message posted to social media. “If this is his last fight, he’s had one heck of a run. All respect to him,” said Du Plessis in response.
Now it’s onward and upward for Du Plessis, who has his sights set on the title, or whatever will get him there. “Right now, I’m on the longest active win streak in the middleweight division. Nobody else is putting their hand up to be the number one contender. Nobody else is winning the fights in the way I’m winning the fights, getting the finishes.”
When a fight with Roman Dolidze was suggested, Du Plessis’ response was simple. “If that’s a title eliminator fight, then that definitely makes sense.”
Asked about keeping his weight low ahead of UFC 287 in Miami, in case either of Alex Pereira or Israel Adesanya drop out of their middleweight title fight, Du Plessis indicated that weight won’t be a concern.
“If I get a title shot, the weight doesn’t have to be low. I’ll make that weight,” Du Plessis told Cageside Press, noting that he made weight for his debut on short notice. “I don’t train fight camp to fight camp. This is not something I do. This is all I do. This is my life. So they’d better know, if they phone me, if they give me that call for a title fight, I’ll be ready.”
Watch the full UFC 285 post-fight press conference with Dricus Du Plessis above.
