Dricus Du Plessis Takes Middleweight Belt by Storm

Dricus Du Plessis overcame a swollen left eye to become the UFC middleweight champion at UFC 297 in Toronto.

[{"selector":"#anim-ca47b35f-ad6c-4546-8780-0f639cbabe53 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-3.6940789911966867%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0c9321b-6f05-4785-bcce-22d905e1ad93","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d6b64d8a-93d6-4360-8561-e76297ba0b46","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-148.09524%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland by split decision (48-47, 48-47, 47-48), marking a historic moment as the first South African UFC champion.

[{"selector":"#anim-fe5228f0-e103-4142-aeb9-4b1770e7304e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-14.841036779931564%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4328f5c-111d-4a4c-9166-23fc27f2fcbc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-860a6f97-50e4-4275-bc4b-34038805aafd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-148.09524%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Despite Strickland's strong jab, Du Plessis fought back, with the third round being a turning point in the match.

[{"selector":"#anim-9cb7c713-24a9-45be-b3ae-a4329cf643b0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.150493273565324%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a5d0dc9-baca-4402-8d3e-507c01da3c2a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a187d07d-cf55-4419-aaf7-347ec867ac70","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-135.83334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Du Plessis caused significant damage in the fourth round, opening a big gash on Strickland's face with an elbow and securing multiple takedowns.

[{"selector":"#anim-0d9c6705-1cc8-460e-98d0-94827f00a644 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-20.273026556317994%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acb9bb9b-734a-41c1-88f1-61281d307fd5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e16c8f1e-1bae-42db-aca3-bf0f04031d27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 148.96640%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Entering the fifth round with momentum, Du Plessis faced a resilient Strickland, who connected with combinations in the final minutes.

[{"selector":"#anim-25b24803-ae7e-46f9-8d02-0615ac6a9b15 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(19.146792549787516%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c294b1d7-ab1e-46ff-83de-c681a3ca0d98","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1cee6eae-fc9e-40ab-af4f-e50e359eaf7f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.58824%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The judges favored Du Plessis, ending the fight that had previous animosity from UFC 296.

[{"selector":"#anim-9358bb89-b3f6-40e9-9508-231ef9c7cd4d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-58.046875106594754%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e3600a2-b817-4fe7-a549-eeb872eb190c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-db1befa1-9569-483a-9b2f-6cd74241b5a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-127.44361%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Strickland, disappointed after his belt-winning upset against Israel Adesanya, may seek a rematch, but Du Plessis eyes Adesanya for his next challenge.

[{"selector":"#anim-841cc23f-86b6-48a8-a3f3-12809e1f007f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(21.80509851297428%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a170530f-3cd8-4d4d-9feb-fc60b7a24c2b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf47fb48-133e-4727-9d95-f2f5e8fd30a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-127.44361%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Du Plessis called out Adesanya, saying, "Israel Adesanya, get your ass back in the UFC so we can settle the score."

[{"selector":"#anim-aea59fb1-4c96-4cb5-acdb-519ea3138248 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(33.52384859418815%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f486da3-825d-4276-a789-2b99498b1141","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44c70bd3-f669-4f80-98a1-49d44ebfd942","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-127.44361%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Another potential opponent for Du Plessis is Khamzat Chimaev, who expressed interest in appearing at UFC 300.

[{"selector":"#anim-1972aa58-5326-4de6-8e51-b5f8b032cf69 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.979993633059756%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Read More Here