Dricus Du Plessis is ready for the next chapter of his career, and it involves winning UFC belts in two different weight classes.<\/p>\n
Du Plessis won the middleweight belt off Sean Strickland back in January 2024 and defended it twice before dropping it to Khamzat Chimaev in a one-sided grappling contest.<\/a> We\u2019re just over a year removed from that bad loss, and \u201cStillknocks\u201d has bounced back with a solid win<\/a> over Kamaru Usman.<\/p>\n In a new interview with Sias du Plessis (no relation), Dricus discussed getting back on the winning path.<\/p>\n \u201cI think especially after a loss like that, you work so hard to rectify the mistakes that you made,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd to go back out and go prove that the things you worked on did work, the hard work you put in paid off. It\u2019s incredible. Like I always say, you\u2019re only as good as your last fight, and to be a loser is not in my cards. I don\u2019t like that.\u201d<\/p>\n Du Plessis has big ambitions as he works to get himself back into the No. 1 contender spot at 185 pounds.<\/p>\n \u201cGetting my belt back,\u201d he stated. \u201cI mean, that\u2019s for me. That\u2019s the biggest thing. I wanna get my belt back, and eventually go up to 205 and go test myself there. And I\u2019m certain that I\u2019ll be a champion. I\u2019m big enough for that division, and I\u2019m certain I can be champion in that division as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Du Plessis has always been a big middleweight, and moving up to light heavyweight would take some pressure off his pre-fight cut.<\/p>\n \u201cIn pounds, it\u2019s 45 pounds that I\u2019m cutting,\u201d he revealed. \u201cEven more sometimes from where I walk around outside of a camp to fight. It\u2019s ridiculous. It\u2019s crazy. But my team is great. We\u2019ve done this for many years. We we got it down to a science.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not gonna sit here and say, \u2018No, It\u2019s good for you.\u2019 It isn\u2019t. But, I mean, getting punched in the head is also not good for you. So, I made my choices, and I wouldn\u2019t change it for the world.\u201d<\/p>\n