Top UFC middleweight Dricus du Plessis commented on his upcoming fight with former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. The fight will take place on the night of July 9 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (USA) as part of the UFC 290 tournament.
With a guy like Whittaker, I’m not surprised that I’m the underdog. My opponents don’t add up to his. The amount of fights don’t add up. He’s had the belt. He’s fought the champ twice. He hasn’t lost to anybody else in almost a decade. Yeah, he deserves to be the betting favorite, 100 percent.
Dricus du Plessis
"I’m not even offended by it at all. For me, this is where I’m taking over. This is where I become the betting favorite. Up until you beat the champion, nobody believes you’re going to be that champion. Robert Whittaker, rightfully so, is a fan-and-betting-favorite."
Du Plessis, 29, defeated Derek Brunson by TKO in the second round at UFC 285 in March 2023. He has 18 wins and two losses under his belt.
Whittaker, 32, in his last fight, at UFC Fight Night 209 in September 2022, defeated Marvin Vettori by unanimous decision. He has 24 wins and six losses under his belt.