Dricus du Plessis opens by reframing the belt narrative: in his mind, the champion is whoever wins on the night, so he walked out as the challenger and fought with challenger intent. He credits the UFC’s Perth team for a seamless fight week, then confirms what the broadcast showed: a disciplined pressure approach that grew each round and culminated in a round-four surge. He explains the tactical cadence his corner called every round. Early minutes were spent holding center without overextending, then at the two-minute mark he was told to “go,” increasing forward pressure to shorten Adesanya’s early success windows.

Du Plessis details why he expected a more proactive Adesanya, notes the punishing inside low kicks, and walks through the finish. After landing heavy shots in round four, body position made the takedown the highest-percentage choice. With Adesanya staggered, he secured the back, flattened him out and closed with the choke. He emphasizes creating opportunities if none appear, an ethos he says is core to how he fights. He also discusses the jacket he gifted Adesanya post-fight, calling it a token of appreciation between competitors and stressing respect for Adesanya’s career while making clear they are not friends on a personal level.

Looking ahead, he says he will fight whoever the UFC and fans want. He pushes back on Alex Pereira dropping to 185, suggesting they can meet at 205 after each handles business, and acknowledges Sean Strickland as the likely next opponent while opining that Robert Whittaker has been “done over” given recent wins. He closes by praising his coaches at CIT Performance Institute and the momentum for South African MMA, quoting Mandela on sport’s power to unify.

Dricus du Plessis sits with Jon Anik to preview his UFC 297 middleweight title fight against Sean Strickland in Toronto. He frames his climb as the product of years outside the UFC, citing title experience in Europe and a steady progression through ranked opponents. He points to checkpoints that validated his ceiling: out-landing Brad Tavares, repeatedly taking down Darren Till and Derek Brunson, securing takedowns on Robert Whittaker where others could not, and ultimately becoming the first fighter in a decade to finish Whittaker.

On Strickland’s upset of Israel Adesanya, du Plessis admits he initially saw it as unlikely, but says his focus is the belt rather than any single rival. Mentally switching targets was easy because he chases championships, not names. He expects classic Strickland pressure and promises not to concede ground, insisting styles will force a violent clash. Du Plessis reiterates his finishing mindset, noting he trains to end fights rather than edge rounds, and predicts their title bout will not see the scorecards.

He addresses the nine-week turnaround he declined after UFC 290, explaining that fighting Whittaker injured was manageable but starting a new camp compromised was not. On the well-covered deviated septum surgery, he says it improved sleep, recovery, and session quality, but was only part of a broader performance puzzle the team has refined.

Looking ahead, he welcomes trash talk as theater but says it will not alter his approach. He expects a passionate Canadian crowd, is used to walking into boos and leaving to cheers, and believes a South African champion will accelerate bringing a UFC event to Africa. He closes by reflecting on MMA’s surge at home and the responsibility that comes with being the face of South African MMA.