Dricus Du Plessis' surprising KO against Robert Whittaker

UFC 305 headliner Dricus Du Plessis secured his first shot at gold on MMA's biggest stage by defeating all-time middleweight great Robert Whittaker.

The 185-pound king will return in the main event of this weekend's pay-per-view card at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, where he will defend his belt in a rematch against Israel Adesanya.

Before dethroning Sean Strickland last January, Du Plessis earned his place as top contender by shocking the world with his performance against Whittaker, widely considered one of the best boxers in this weight class.

Although he was 5-0 in the Octagon at the time, there were many critics who doubted his unorthodox style and chances against the division's elite. However, Du Plessis asserted his confidence by stopping “The Reaper” in the second round at International Fight Week in July 2023.

Ahead of Saturday's event, the promoter released the full Du Plessis vs. Whittaker fight from UFC 290 on its official YouTube channel.

Du Plessis will now have to exceed all expectations once again if he wants to add a successful defense to his track record in mixed martial arts.

With a win in Perth, the South African would not only maintain his place on the middleweight throne and further cement his standing in the division, but also secure his UFC 0 position. Not to mention, he would keep Adesanya from a historic three-title shot.