Dricus Du Plessis is rising high in popularity due to his exceptional fight performances. As such, many UFC pundits and commentators believe that ‘StillKnocks’ is currently one of the best fighters in the promotion. In one such instance, UFC color commentator Jon Anik has heaped high praises on the UFC middleweight king.
DDP recently overcame one of the toughest challenges in the UFC middleweight division. He defeated the former UFC undisputed middleweight champ, Israel Adesanya, in their highly anticipated grudge match. Following that win, Dricus Du Plessis has cemented his reign in the division, extending his unbeaten streak. In light of that, popular UFC commentator Jon Anik has shared his opinions on the champ.
Hall of Fame careers happen very quickly and Dricus Du Plessis was not a Hall of Famer before Saturday night and I’m not even sitting here being suggestive that he is but maybe I am because he just finds a way to win.
Jon Anik via The Anik and Florian Podcast
Per Anik, Du Plessis’ victories against top names in the middleweight division have greatly boosted his career achievements. Jon Anik also believes his victories against Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya have made DDP a contender for the Hall of Fame.
Whittaker has been a standout performer in the UFC middleweight division for a decade now. On the other hand, Adesanya’s UFC record speaks volumes, as the Kiwi fighter has lost only three fights from his 16 fights as a UFC middleweight. Overcoming such formidable opponents requires a lot of dedication to the sport, according to Anik.
Not only that, Du Plessis’ victory over Sean Strickland to become the UFC middleweight has also been one of his top performances. Interestingly, it was not only Jon Anik who took notice of such performances. One of the top delegates of the Republic of South Africa has also heaped praise on the UFC middleweight king.
Dricus Du Plessis garners attention from the President of the Republic of South Africa
Dricus Du Plessis’ performances at UFC 305 have left everyone in awe. Several UFC fighters praised his high fight IQ and the way he takes short openings into his favor. On the other hand, his win has also left some prominent individuals in the UFC in dismay. Many rooted for Adesanya to win against DDP. However, Du Plessis had other plans and shocked them with his win.
Dricus Du Plessis and Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 (Image via X)Interestingly, Du Plessis’ recent exquisite performances have also reached the ministry of South Africa. Following his victory over Israel Adesanya, the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, congratulated Stillknocks. The President penned down a note for the South African UFC middleweight champ on his X handle (@CyrilRamaphosa).
Congratulations, Dricus Du Plessis, on retaining your UFC middleweight world championship with a submission in #UFC305. As a bonus, you kept our Flag flying hours after the Springboks scored an historic a 2-0 series win in Perth as well. We couldn’t wish for a better day in the office
Cyril Ramaphosa via X
Congratulations, Dricus Du Plessis, on retaining your UFC middleweight world championship with a submission in #UFC305.
As a bonus, you kept our Flag flying hours after the Springboks scored an historic a 2-0 series win in Perth as well. We couldn’t wish for a better day in the… pic.twitter.com/oxwTsAEF5Q
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) August 18, 2024
Interestingly, following the fight, there were several callouts for the current UFC middleweight king as well. He is expected to defend his title against Sean Strickland next. It remains to be seen when Dricus Du Plessis returns to fight inside the octagon. It could be by the end of the year or early next year.
