Du Plessis becomes South Africa s first UFC champion - The Nation Newspaper thenationonlineng.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thenationonlineng.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
South African Dricus Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland to win the UFC middleweight title with a split-decision victory in the main event of UFC 297 in Toronto. The pair engaged in a bitter war of words before the fight and even a brawl in the crowd of UFC 296 but Strickland was very controlled once the bout got underway. According to Euro Sport, he controlled the first with Du Plessis unable to penetrate his defence while being peppered by jabs in the opening round which left the challenger with a bruised left eye.