Surging UFC middleweight Dricus Du Plessis, like the rest of the division, has one eye on the title. The new middleweight champion, Alex Pereira, recently handed Israel Adesanya his first loss at 185 pounds, claiming the title in the process. Du Plessis does not expect Pereira’s time at the top to last long at all, making his case in a recent episode of The MMA Hour.
Du Plessis claimed that he expects to fight for the belt himself in the near future, and that he doubts he’ll be facing Pereira when he does so. “I’d be surprised if I don’t fight for the title [in the next year].
Du Plessis Predicts Short Reign for Pereira
I’d be surprised. I said this year, I would be in the top 10 before the end of the year, and that’s happening. I honestly believe I’ll be in the top three in my next two fights.” When asked who he expects to face for UFC gold, Du Plessis has a confident prediction.
“Probably Izzy or Rob Whittaker. That’s the two guys I see. I don’t think [Alex Pereira is still champion]. I think Alex is an amazing fighter. I think Robert Whittaker beats him. I honestly think Whittaker can beat Alex.”
Du Plessis continued, mapping out the landscape of the middleweight top three. “Alex is a big dude. I saw him again on Saturday. He’s big for the weight, but I do think his style, which is more of a flat-footed style, he punches like a truck and he kicks hard and his striking is really good. I just think when it comes to mixed martial arts as a whole, I think Robert Whittaker has a style to beat Ales Pereira.
I think Whittaker is struggling with Izzy because maybe a mental block, and Izzy is really good at movement, so it makes it hard to take him down.
He’s moving a lot, where I believe with Pereira, he’s a much more stagnant fighter. He stands in one spot with his feet planted, and he hits hard. I think that’s something that Whittaker will be able to take advantage of and take him down, and we saw when he’s on the ground and he’s put on his back, or he’s at the bottom, he’s not that great. I think Whittaker takes him down and TKOs or submits him.”
Do you agree with Du Plessis’ prediction for Alex Pereira and Robert Whittaker? Will we see that fight before the Pereira vs Adesanya rematch? Let us know in the comments.
