Former UFC middleweight champion Drikas du Plessis’ lack of the title to Khamzat Chimaev was so one-sided and embarrassing. The massive South African, who was properly on his strategy to the 185-pound title, was utterly crippled by Chimaev’s suffocating wrestling match. When you’re trapped on the mat, all of your energy, gasoline tank, and stress are meaningless. It was a protracted and irritating five-round battle for du Plessis.
That meant he solely had one alternative after shedding the belt. To get again into the gymnasium and overcome my shortcomings. And in his comeback battle towards Kamaru Usman in Oklahoma Metropolis, he appeared to have finished simply that. He is calling the newest model of himself “Stillknocks 2.0,” and judging by his efficiency Saturday evening at Paycom Heart, he seems able to return to the highest of the middleweight division.
Du Plessis displayed improved takedown protection towards Usman, which allowed him to impose his trademark combating method on “The Nigerian Nightmare,” rocking the undisputed former welterweight champion a number of instances en path to a landslide resolution victory.
This was considered one of du Plessis’ greatest performances within the Octagon, proving he is able to make one other shot at championship gold. What makes issues much more attention-grabbing for the South African is that du Plessis will not need to face Chimaev for the belt. As an alternative, he’ll face present champion Sean Strickland, who has already misplaced two world title fights.
The one potential downside is the presence of French contender Nasrudin Imavov, who sits on the head of the middleweight column and deserves an opportunity at championship gold in his personal proper. It in all probability makes extra sense for the division to e-book that battle if Strickland is prepared, however from a pure field workplace standpoint, a 3rd battle between Strickland and du Plessis appears to have extra significance.
There’s at all times the choice of Du Plessis going through Imavov for the glory of going through Strickland subsequent. There are three attainable matchups, however the title eliminator is perhaps the perfect one.
UFC has new Diaz brother
Because the UFC’s greatest stars start to age and retire from competitors, a debate usually arises as to the place the UFC’s subsequent hero will come from. However the world of sports activities at all times appears to discover a strategy to create new stars, and we would get a glimpse of 1 on Saturday evening.
Featherweight Tommy McMillen was solely competing in his second battle within the UFC, however every part about his efficiency at UFC Oklahoma Metropolis instructed he might someday turn out to be one of many UFC’s huge fan-favorite fighters.
His ferocious method and aggressive combating type are harking back to the Diaz brothers of their prime, and McMillen defeated the extra proficient however less-armed Alberto Montez at Paycom Heart on Saturday evening.
It was an actual expressive efficiency from McMillen, who has the same air of star energy to Sean O’Malley, with whom he trains in Arizona. However whereas “The Sugar Present” leans towards flashy, spectacular blows, “Tommy Gun” is all about violence. Along with his nonstop putting assault towards Montez, he broke the featherweight’s all-time file for important strikes in a three-round bout. It additionally earned him a pleasant six-figure bonus on the finish of the evening. To conclude, he delivered a post-match promo that any WWE Famous person could be happy with.
In an period when fighters appear to wish to entertain as a lot as they should win, McMillen appears constructed for the newest period of the UFC. And if he can win greater than he loses, he might shortly turn out to be the game’s greatest rising star.
