Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker is set to take on rising contender Dricus Du Plessis in a highly anticipated middleweight matchup at UFC 290 on July 8. The fight will be available on ESPN+ pay-per-view and take place inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The winner of this bout will earn the right to challenge current UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya later this year at an event in Sydney, Australia. Whittaker, aged 32, has an impressive record of 12-0 outside of his two losses to Adesanya in the past five years, including a dominant decision win over Marvin Vettori in September 2022.
Du Plessis, a 29-year-old fighter from South Africa, has yet to taste defeat inside the Octagon, amassing a notable record of 5-0 since his UFC debut in 2020. A victory over Whittaker will undoubtedly cement his status as a legitimate contender and secure his first official UFC title shot.
This middleweight matchup is highly anticipated by fans and analysts alike, with both fighters boasting impressive records and skill sets. It will be interesting to see how Whittaker’s experience matches up against Du Plessis’ momentum as they battle it out for the right to challenge Adesanya. Don’t miss out on this exciting event available on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
