Dricus Du Plessis to Face Robert Whittaker in Title Eliminator Bout at UFC 290

• Israel Adesanya continues to mock South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis
• Robert Whittaker will take on du Plessis for a chance to face Adesanya
• Whittaker is no pushover and has only lost twice in the past nine years

Dricus du Plessis is one win away from getting a shot at Israel Adesanya and the UFC’s Middleweight belt.

The South African fighter and the Nigerian-born New Zealander have been engaged in a war of words of late but could have a chance to settle their beef later this year.

UFC Dana White confirmed that du Plessis will next face Robert Whittaker in a title eliminator match.

That middleweight bout will take place at UFC 290 in July, with the winner then becoming the number one contender for Adesanya’s title.

Israel Adesanya reclaims UFC Middleweight belt with stunning knockout victory over Alex Pereira

UFC

Whittaker will be no easy task for Stillknocks. As noted by UFC Stats, The Reaper’s record stands at 25 wins and six losses. He’s only lost two fights in the past nine years, with both of those defeats coming at the hands of Adesanya.

Du Plessis, on the other hand, has yet to taste defeat in the UFC and is eager to take that belt back to Africa. His comments about living in Africa, while other fighters moved away, didn’t sit well with The Last Stylebender.

Adesanya previously said he hoped a certain middleweight kept winning just so he could drag his carcass across South Africa.

Adesanya took it one step further as he recently mocked du Plessis’ recent surgery. The South African fighter underwent an operation to fix nasal and respiratory problems. Du Plessis was only getting 8% oxygen intake before the operation.

Adesanya took to Twitter recently to share a photo of his own nostrils, joking that he has 100% intake.

Israel Adesanya fires strong warning at fellow African middleweight after defeating Alex Pereira at UFC 287

UFC

Adesanya's warning to du Plessis

The Last Stylebender is not happy with a fellow African middleweight in the UFC, Sports Brief has previously reported.

Adesanya knocked Pereira out at UFC 287 to reclaim his Middleweight title and then turned his focus to du Plessis.

The Nigerian-born fighter said he hoped the South African kept winning, so he would have a reason to beat him.