After losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev in a one-sided fight at UFC 319, Dricus Du Plessis had a lot to prove in his comeback. However, the South African silenced any doubts in his first fight since August 2025, outclassing Kamaru Usman at UFC Oklahoma to secure a dominant decision victory.
With the middleweight division heating up with several contenders in the mix, “Stillknocks” is eager to work his way back to the title. But regaining the 185lbs belt isn’t the only thing on his mind. Du Plessis also has his eyes on the light heavyweight division, where he hopes to become a two-division champion, just as he did during his time in KSW.
Dricus Du Plessis Believes He Can Capture UFC Gold at Light Heavyweight
In a recent interview with Sias du Plessis, the former middleweight champion reflected on getting back in the win column at UFC Oklahoma. He explained how satisfying it was to see his hard work pay off after suffering a tough loss to Chimaev.
“I think especially after a loss like that, you work so hard to rectify the mistakes that you made. And to go back out and go prove that the things you worked on did work, the hard work you put in paid off. It’s incredible.”
He added, “Like I always say, you’re only as good as your last fight, and to be a loser is not in my cards. I don’t like that.”
Du Plessis is now focused on reclaiming his middleweight title before making the jump to 205lbs. The South African is confident he has what it takes to compete with the bigger fighters and eventually capture another championship.
He said, “Getting my belt back. I mean, that’s for me. That’s the biggest thing. I wanna get my belt back, and eventually go up to 205 and go test myself there. And I’m certain that I’ll be a champion. I’m big enough for that division, and I’m certain I can be champion in that division as well.”
Dricus du Plessis wants to reclaim the middleweight belt before moving to 205 – and believes he can become light heavyweight champion too.
“I want to get my belt back and eventually go up to 205 and go test myself there. And I’m certain that I’ll be a champion. I’m big enough for that division, and I’m certain I can be champion at that division as well.”
via: @siasduplessis
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 19, 2026
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However, chasing a second UFC title isn’t the only reason Du Plessis wants to move up. The former champion also wants to escape the exhausting weight cuts required to make the middleweight limit. He revealed that he typically cuts around 45lbs to compete at 185lbs, making the process a serious challenge even with his team’s experience.
“In pounds, it’s 45 pounds that I’m cutting. Even more sometimes from where I walk around outside of a camp to fight. It’s ridiculous. It’s crazy. But my team is great. We’ve done this for many years. We’ve got it down to a science.”
As for what’s next, Du Plessis wants to reclaim the middleweight championship first, but his plans for a potential title defense will depend on the opponent the UFC offers him. He is keen to take on matchups that excite fans and bring more attention to the division rather than simply fighting for the sake of defending his belt.
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Once he’s done his business at 185lbs, the former champion hopes to test himself against the light heavyweights. While a move to 205lbs isn’t guaranteed to happen in 2027, Du Plessis is ready to make the jump if the right opportunity presents itself.
Kshitiz Kumar Singh is a UFC Writer at NY Fights with over three years of experience in sports journalism and content creation. Known for his sharp storytelling and passion for combat sports, he has written in-depth features on stars like Brock Lesnar, Randy Couture, and Ilia Topuria. Before joining NY Fights, Kshitiz worked as a UFC Editor at EssentiallySports while currently serving as a WWE Editor at FirstSportz. His admiration for legends like Georges St-Pierre continues to inspire his detailed and engaging MMA coverage. Whether he’s covering the Octagon or the squared circle, Kshitiz is committed to delivering accurate, high-quality content. Outside the world of sports, he’s a dedicated cinephile, often found practicing monologues from his favorite Al Pacino films, combining his love for cinema with storytelling.
