HOUSTON, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 12: Robert Whittaker of Australia looks on before his middleweight championship fight against Israel Adesanya of Nigeria during UFC 271 at Toyota Center on February 12, 2022 in Houston, Texas. Image: Carmen Mandato/AFP

Who is Dricus du Plessis fighting at UFC 290?

Dricus Du Plessis has acknowledged that Robert Whittaker is a huge step up from his previous opponents in the UFC.

by James Richardson

07-07-2023 18:14

in MMA

Who is Dricus du Plessis fighting at UFC 290? South African MMA star Dricus Du Plessis will put his unbeaten record in the UFC on the line when he takes on No 2 ranked middleweight Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 on Sunday 9 July.

Du Plessis has trash-talked his way into the eliminator as his comments about wanting to be a true African champ irked Nigerian-born New Zealand fighter Israel Adesanya.

Who is Dricus du Plessis fighting at UFC 290?

Du Plessis has acknowledged that Whittaker is a huge step up from his previous opponents.

“I didn’t even know I was the favorite every time (before this),” Du Plessis told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “With a guy like Whittaker, I’m not surprised that I’m the underdog. On what grounds do you say, ‘No, on betting odds, Dricus is beating Whittaker?’ On what grounds? 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.

“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. This is a fight that puts me in that tier. One hundred percent this is my time. There’s a champion and there’s a contender. 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. That is for now, up until I surpass that spot.”

Stillknocks is the underdog

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Adesanya made headlines when he issued a fiery response in the wake of regaining the UFC middleweight strap.

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UFC powers that be have never been shy about ignoring the rankings to put on a blockbuster fight but despite Adesanya clearly wanting to get Dricus du Plessis next, they have opted to give the TEAM CIT fighter a championship contenders match against Whittaker.

Whittaker is a test of Du Plessis’ big fight aptitude, and victory over the American would give him every right to say that he earned his shot at Adesanya.

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However, according to the current odds, Du Plessis is the rank outsider to secure victory over the UFC veteran.

Dricus du Plessis — Dricus Du Plessis punches Brad Tavares in their Middleweight bout at UFC 276 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by Alejandro Salazar/PxImages)

Being offered at 2.6 by Hollywoodbets against a slender 0.25 for the Whittaker win, it is clear that few punters have been eager to back Dricus du Plessis to date.

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What time is Dricus du Plessis vs Robert Whittaker

One of the first fights confirmed for the UFC 290 event was Dricus du Plessis vs Robert Whittaker.

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It should be noted that all UFC event specifics are subject to change right up until the night of the fights.

The featherweight bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Yair Rodríguez will headline UFC 290 which takes place on 9 July 2023 in Las Vegas.

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Due to the time difference, the event’s live broadcast goes out in South Africa in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Dricus du Plessis will fight Robert Whittaker from around 04:00 on the morning of 10 July 2023. Set your clocks now.

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UFC 290 fight card

Details of fights subject to change.

MAIN EVENT: Alexander Volkanovski vs Yair Rodriguez – for UFC featherweight title
Brandon Moreno vs Alexandre Pantoja – for UFC flyweight title
Robert Whittaker vs Dricus du Plessis
Jalin Turner vs Dan Hooker
Bo Nickal vs Tresean Gore

Preliminary card