LAS VEGAS – Dricus Du Plessis knows he’s the underdog – and in a weird way, he kind of agrees.
In a pre-fight press conference at UFC 290 on Wednesday prior to Saturday’s event at T-Mobile Arena, Du Plessis (19-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) was asked about the audience’s skepticism, particularly the odds-makers. Currently, Du Plessis is an average of +280 underdogs across major online sportsbooks (per BestFightOdds).
Rather than present himself or argue his case, Du Plessis took a step back and said he understands the prevailing perception — though he disagrees that he would turn out to be accurate at the steps in the cage to fight Robert Whitaker (25-6 MMA), 15-4 UFC ).
“I didn’t even know I was the favorite every time (before that),” du Plessis told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “With a guy like Whitaker, I’m not surprised I’m the underdog. On what basis do you say, ‘No, on betting odds, Dracus beats Whitaker?’ He hasn’t lost to anyone else in nearly a decade.Yes, he deserves to be the best bet, 100%.
“I’m not even offended by him at all. For me, that’s where I take charge. This is where I become the favorite bet. This is a fight that puts me at this level. One hundred percent this is my time. There is a champion and there is a challenger. Until you beat Champ, no one thought you’d be that champ. Robert Whitaker, right about that, is a fan favorite and bookies. That’s for the time being, until I got past that spot.”
By all accounts, including his own accounts, Du Plessis sees Whittaker as the toughest test of his competitive career. Whitaker looked unbeatable against anyone who wasn’t named Israel Adesanya.
“(Robert Whitaker) is definitely the best opponent I’ve ever faced in my career,” said du Plessis. “I can tell him the same thing. He’s an incredible, incredible fighter. People will say, ‘Where do you see holes in his game?’ It’s very difficult to see a hole in a game for someone like Whitaker. I don’t think that’s the way to go. I’m looking for holes in His game. I’m looking to force mistakes and capitalize on them. That’s exactly what I’m going to do when I go out there: impose my style.”
UFC President Dana White previously hinted that the winner of Saturday’s major middleweight bout could be in line for a title shot at UFC 293 in Sydney in September. The rivalry between South African-born du Plessis and New Zealand-born, Nigerian-born Adesanya centered around “Africanism,” which makes the relationship a volatile person. However, Du Plessis said his route is not specifically about going through Adeasnya. It is about who bears the surname.
“I don’t want to fight Izzy. I want to fight the guy with the belt,” du Plessis said. “Whether it’s Izzy, whether it’s Strickland, I don’t care. For me, it’s about fighting whoever has that title to become the champion.”
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