These two upsets (Du Plessis and Strickland beating Izzy) is what the division needed. Gutted for Whittaker, but the brightside is that the division has new blood at the top

The Spanish commentary is simply incredible

My Spanish is on point, i understand everything.

Thank you for not including Izzy at the end

on replay the fight is way better than i remembered.

I love how they just go straight to the fight. Thank You!

7:58 Rob narrowly avoids a laser jab here, gets overconfident because of it, tries to close the distance at an inopportune time, and then gets absolutely melted by the next one. Tough loss.

*This one still hurts. I hate seeing Bobby Knuckles lose.*

A great performance by two incredible fighters

It's so great to see South Africans doing so well in some of my favourite sports. Dricus in MMA. Brad Binder in MotoGP. Springboks in rugby.

I mean, this was really a DDP Masterclass, at first it didn't look this good, but when you rewatch and analyse, then you notice the hidden skills

9:18 This is the best part of the fight. DDP was a huge fan of Whittaker growing up, had his posters and all. It's part of why he could read Whittaker so well. He's been super respectful to his idol in the pre fight, and once its over, there's no bad feeling between the two just mutual respect. Nice to see. And Whittaker you're a legend, he's given us lots of wonderful fights.

Du Plessis body is completely ripe for the punching. His high defense is amazing, but Rob could have def taken advantage of the body. Du Plessis is like a video game boss that is strong and can take a lot of damage, but has one glaring weakness. I'd like to see someone work that body to see what kind of stamina he has, especially in a 5 rounder. I bet Strickland will take advantage of it.

We've been waiting for a long time in S.A for a champion. January 20th, we will crown first ever South African MMA champion

I like it so much when a new humble master is pissing of all the big ego in ufc. Duplessis is one of those master

Esta buenísimo volver a ver las peleas.. las puedes analizar mas alla del calor del momento cuando las viste en vivo..

Once Dricus got over the nerves in the first round, he began dominating. Robert's experience showed here.

It's incredible how incorrect my fight prediction was for this fight. I really thought DDP didn't stand a chance! Love this sport.

The difference in power and size was evident in this fight.

They both had success, the difference was DDP’s durability, he’s just one tough SOB 😳

3:09 is when it started going downhill for Rob. Look how well that hook lands, it even stuns Rob but the commentators don't really notice it. That really cracked him and made him hesitant.

If Dricus wins he will be the first real African Champion.

I love how dricus looks so awkward out there and then all of a sudden his opponent is out cold on the canvas

The coaches of DDP are very active, - heres what they are saying the whole time - Maak toe - Close up ( guard) Hou hom daar - Hold him there - Net vorentoe - Only Forward

Dricus’s stricking is so ugly, but somehow effective lol

That jab made Robs ears quiver and shoot out lol. Tough loss for Robert

Id like to thank UFC Espanol for posting with English commentary

let's go KING DRICUS, the greatest african fighter ever.

Adesanya is tense. He himself lost to someone, and one of the best (Whittaker) whom he defeated also lost to someone else. So it appears to him that there are multiple competitors who might be better than him. But Whittaker didn't look bad at all. It is quite possible he would defeat Du Plessis if they were to fight again.

Thanks, great fight. ✌🏻👊🏼

Nasty takedown by dricus😂. Thats some street fighting takedown

Whittaker definitely looked off after he landed that takedown against Dricus. Once Dricus got up, his body language shifted like he ran out of gas or tweaked something

if we were given the option to mute cormier that’d make these fights so much better.

Izzy just standing there at the end waiting to make it all about himself on DDPs night. Classy as always lmao

They both did great and are getting better at fighting. Honestly it almost looked like it could have gone either way.

Much as i love Whittaker, I always wonder why dude doesn't throw enough body shots, keep his opponents guessing. Even some obliques or mid kicks to the body. Would've made all the difference in this fight because Du Plessis was open alot for body work.

anybody notice how Du Plessis' legs were shaking? good aggression from the winner

Dricus is built like a square

Forgot about this guy. Time to start the hype for the Canada card. Sean is in for a struggle.

El striking de Du PLessis luce bastante raro, diría que poco ortodoxo, porque cuando tira el jab que derriba por primera vez a Whittaker incluso se lanza hacia atras con la guardia bien alta, como esperando un contra ataque. Por otra parte, se ve que tiene la pegada súper pesada y lanza combinaciones mortales.

Dricus seemed to hit nothing but air the first 2 and a half minutes. Then at around the half way point of the round he landed a right hand that backed robert up to the fence a bit, and forced rob to circle out uncomfortably. From that point forward the complexion of the fight seemed to change and Dricus turned into the one landing meaningful shots and a takedown. And he never let go of that lead the rest of the fight.

Dricus fights so weird. It looks like he doesn't even know how to fight. But he keeps beating everyone. it's fascinating

9:07 your welcome 😎

Dricus is the best in the world at looking shit till he wins

I didn't really watch the full fight but now that I watch it, DDP didn't walk down Rob like it was easy lmao. He did a good job and kept the fight competitive, but Rob was landing some good shots on DDP.

De Plessis is like a massive brawler with a thight guard.

That timing was perfect by Du Plessis man. But how unfortunate was Bobby to lean into the jab when all he had to do was manage his distance from the angle he was going, it happened so fast he didn’t register his movement hitting him on his left side. Great fucking fight. I had Whittaker winning btw

Forever a Whittaker fan, but props and good luck to DDP

Tough loss for Whitaker .Its hard to see my favorite Mixed Martial artist loose in this way. But the way he gave up looks like the Dog in him is gone .Family man with 4 children might not be having the fire in him . Wishing for a great come back against Costa again a tough opponent. Both Du Plessis and Costa has a significant size advantage. The Jab of Whitaker and the Jab of costa and Du plessis power are different.

Very impressive!

Thanks Spain for posting before official channel

I think Whitaker took DDP too lightly in this one. And he suffered dab for it. I’d love to see them running it back at some point.

Duplessis vs strickland is a way better fight to watch than a fight with izzy. So glad sean won. Izzy would have ran all night just like he did with strickland. Now we get to see these to go foward type fighters clash and see who gives first. Somebody aint gonna be able to pressure. Who will it be?? How will that person fight backing up?? Will the one who has to fall back utilize wrestling? Strickland vs duPlessis is indeed , a better fight

😮 HE HITS HARD

Du Plessis era el claro favorito... en retrospectiva

that southpaw jab was such a good early read by DDP , hate to see my favorite fighter lose man

Nice one !!

I think that calf kick right after he stunned Whittaker really fucked him up. Beautifully placed shot!

Дю Плесси Чемпион🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

I know he handled Whitaker, but DuPlessis might just have a tough time with Strickland.

Man upon rewatch I can def believe Rob wasn't there mentally that night. He's come out and said he has no excuses, just sometimes your mind isn't with you. Slow, uninspired, no changing on patterns. Look like welterweight Rob again lmao

DDP announced himself to the world as LEGIT right here Still think Peoples Champ Strickland takes it home at 297 But ill be rooting for whoever wins that fight as champ. both likable guys, real men

Three things to point out and I noticed as a fan observing this fight ahead of Dricus fight with Sean and what could be ways Sean or Dricus exploit each others cons to win: 1. Dricus and Rob were neck and neck close during the first round and I’d argue Rob was winning rd1 until he foolishly decided to try and go takedown Dricus again rather than keep at range distance and opt for more counter strikes. Dricus also had a good case with his constant pressure or jabs. 2. During round 2 Dricus was outplaying Rob and figured out his stance early on. Rob did do good and was probably just about adjusting despite not being able to figure out dricus during the round. After dricus laid the right hand jab that stunned Rob you can see Rob mentally gave up and allowed dricus to exploit him finding his range and pace while he was trying to escape the TKO 3. Dricus gas tank is definitely not as big of an issue compared in large to some of his previous fights where his nose issue was clearly bothering him however I noticed he still get tired very easily and has issues maintaining long distance of pressing his opponents through Stamina. He does well enough to pressure or finish off his opponents off big will which is why he also wins his fights. However his cardio is def still very questionable and relies on pressure to win. Dricus also has a chin similar to Leon where he’s receptive to jabs or hits that can stun him which leaves him in the open to be knocked down easily(We have seen this with the till, Brunson and Brad Tavares fights where he almost has been knocked out). Since Sean is also a pressure pace fighter and jab specialist with extrodinary defence, he can counter and exploit Dricus chin by jabbing or putting him in a displaced Philly shell shot. If he also can exploit and get Abus, Izzy, urijah hall, Jack hermansson or even Brendan Allen knocked down he will be able to do the same to Dricus. I can’t wait for this fight this is just a general assessment I wanted to point out as a fan of the sport and possibly a open discussion anyone here wishes to have in the comments below to add on to this topic.

DdP walked thru RW, strikland will never last this long with him 🇿🇦

Whittaker was feeling the might of a supreme african warlord after that jab

DDP has such a weird style. Thats why i am super excited to see him and Strickland fight. Gonna be awesome!!

Aun no supero esto 😢😢😢😢

rob looked gassed out after the ground and pound in the first round

Great fight

Rob with vetori's chin would be a nightmare

queria mirar esta pelea ayer y sabia que la subirian en cualquier momento y al final la termine viendo en mala calidad en otro canal :c

The only loss in ufc fight that felt like my football team lost

The sneaky fake foot plant at 3:08 really shows how smart Du Plessis is

Du Plessis is the biggest chad in the UFC

So glad Izzy is washed up. His ego is absolutely disgusting for him to make it about himself instead of letting a guy climbing the ranks have his moment. He’s the most narcissistic person in UFC and karma is giving him everything he deserves

he covered up real quick after that straigh to robs face :O

rob enters his cowboy/ferguson phase

Whittaker is the same as ever here. DuPlessis was just slept on by almost everybody, he's legit

Rob landed some good shots but they just doesnt do anything to stop ddp from coming forward and ddp just doesn't so much more damage when he connects.

Duplessis teminds me of GSP with his movements

I remember this fight being more one sided then it actually was after re watching it! Rob needs to throw with more power like DDP does! Some of Robs strikes would have been much more effective if so. I guess his downfall also was being a too confident and wasn't defending properly and he paid the price! Hopefully we can one day see a re match between these two guy, i personally think it will be a different fight.

Everyone’s been talking about this as though Duplessis destroyed Whittaker; but it’s just not the case. Yeah he caught Whittaker and won, all credit to him. But he doesn’t seem nearly the calibre to beat Strickland or Adesanya. Honestly I think Gastellum would give him a really hard time. But most of all, we have no idea what the 4th and 5th round will bring. Getting your nose fixed isn’t gonna help that much, it’s not like he couldn’t breath out of his mouth. He’s gonna get pieces up by Sean, and then he’s gonna try to wrestle which might win him a couple rounds at most. But then he’ll get tired and Sean will make him crumble against the cage. Pereira can set you up, but Duplessis has none of that going on at all. He’s just gonna be swinging for a target that isn’t there anymore with Strickland.

DDP is like a wrecking ball

du pleasis looks like a LHW

08:26 me in my room when the fridge is still empty (i've checked twice alread)

Go du plessis man drickus du plessis is good like omg😮

This nonsense that is being attempted to build that Rob wasn't in top form. He was. He's fighting beautifully. He's one of those guys who make striking look easy. They have fluid movement, upper body in perfect tandem with their feet and hips, efficient, even graceful. Dominic Reyes is the same. They look good, very natural (though it's hundreds of hours of training). But you can see Dricus did his homework and knew to mix it up, heavily, and steam roller him. That it's such a good demonstration of when a fighter doesn't let the other fighter find a rhythm. Sean likes his rhythm, getting a feel for things. And because Dricus is so messy... you can't know if he's mixing it up or just being messy. DDP, he's a clever brute.

His ayness made him stronger. Omo

Comparing Strickland and Du Plessis fights... Du Plessis is breathing super hard early in Round 1 here... just like Magomedov against Strickland.. If Sean can weather the storm.. I could see him walking De Plessis down. Whittaker totally missed the follow-up jab by Du Plessis falling in.. After he just dodged the one previously. Strickland will have to be more patient.. It's a good right jab from his dominant hand. Strickland will have to watch out for it.

Shows that a better fighter can loose to a worse fighter

🔥

Wow 💪💪💪

When you see the fighters square off at the beginning of the fight, the first thing I thought was - how are they in the same weight class?? DuPlessis looked huge next to Whitaker

When Robert Whitaker is moving around quick and it’s hard get a good glimpse of him, he kinda looks like a muscular Adam Sandler

8:56 trump wanted a lil recognition and driscus simply walks past him 😅😅

That fight could have gone either way, wonder how that would go when two walk foward colide in the Duplessis vs Strikland

I still cant believe he beat rob the way he did

Dc says "rob doesn't start with a jab" as he proceeded to start with 6 or 7 jabs in a row

Du Plesis future goat of MW

DDP's cardio improved a ton from his fight with Till. After watching that fight I didn't think he stood a chance with Strickland but I can really see it going either way if he shows up like he did here with Whittaker