UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis respects light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira but believes he could defeat Pereira in an MMA fight by capitalizing on his striking power and the differences between kickboxing and MMA.
UFC middleweight champ Dricus du Plessis holds immense respect for Alex Pereira, the light heavyweight titleholder. Yet, if they ever clash in the octagon, du Plessis envisions a scenario where he could stop Pereira with strikes. Intriguing, right?
In a chat with Submission Radio, du Plessis shared his thoughts on potential standup exchanges. "I’m not fighting a kickboxing match; it’s MMA," he emphasized. With those small gloves, landing clean punches can be game-changing. "I don’t care who you are; you’ll go down eventually," he added confidently.
Du Plessis clinched the middleweight belt by outpointing Sean Strickland at UFC 297 earlier this year. He then defended it successfully against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. Meanwhile, Pereira has been on a tear at light heavyweight, knocking out Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree—an impressive Fighter of the Year campaign.
The South African champion knows facing Pereira won’t be easy. But after watching Pereira’s bout with Rountree, du Plessis noticed some exploitable weaknesses. Interesting observations there!
Reflecting on his fight with Adesanya, du Plessis recalled being underestimated for his speed. "Maybe it’s not pretty, but damn, it’s effective," he remarked. It’s not just about kickboxing; it’s MMA—a whole different ballgame when combining punches and kicks.
When discussing Pereira’s strengths, du Plessis acknowledged his opponent’s striking prowess. "His striking is incredible," he admitted. However, he also pointed out that Rountree had notable success in the early rounds against Pereira. Food for thought?
Catch the full interview with du Plessis on Submission Radio below!