Image – Sherdog

Song just faced an interesting stylistic challenge in Gutierrez.  Chris’s reach and versatile kicking game make it difficult to close the distance on him.  As a result, Song struggled at times to enter the pocket safely.  However, Song adjusted masterfully and used his grappling to control several rounds.  On the feet, he absorbed Chris’s strikes without issue and took advantage of his few opportunities to rock Gutierrez.  

As Song continues to rise the ranks, he will face far tougher challenges.  In his fight with Cory Sandhagen, Song performed admirably, but lost via doctor’s stoppage.  Yadong has rebounded nicely since then, but he will have to be at his best to continue winning.   His speed and power might be unmatched in this division.  However, he does tend to leave himself open to strikes.  While his chin has remained solid thus far, he will want to minimize his defensive openings moving forward.  He could take another slicing elbow, seen in the Sandhagen fight, or worse, get knocked out. 

Image – Asian MMA

After the fight, Song called out Petr Yan, a former champion.  It’s certainly an exciting call-out and would be an action-packed fight.  Based on trends alone, one might favor Song.  Yadong now carries significant momentum with wins over Gutierrez and Ricky Simon.  Yan, on the other hand, has suffered three consecutive losses.  A close inquiry, however, casts doubt on this narrative.  Yan’s losses against former champion Aljamain Sterling and current champion Sean’O Malley were both razor close, controversial decisions.  And while Yan lost a lopsided contest against Merab Dvalishvili on the scorecards, he successfully defended the vast majority of Merab’s takedown attempts in a nonstop 25 minute affair. 

Stylistically, both Yan and Song prefer to box in the pocket.  While Song likely has the edge in pure athleticism, Yan appears to be the more technically and fundamentally sound striker.  Both have shown to be well versed in the grappling realm as well.  

Interestingly, Song also boasts a win over current title challenger Chito Vera.  There is no doubt that on paper, Yadong can compete with anyone.  Still just 26 years of age, he could potentially improve even more over the coming years.  With his sharp fighting skills and improving English, he could become one of the UFC’s most exciting international superstars.

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Patchy Mix, image – MMA Fighting

Patchy “No Love” Mix ran through the three best bantamweights in Bellator in under a year. Submitting Magomed Magomedov, who has never been finished. Patchy also KO’D Raufron Stots, who was 7-0. Most recently, he submitted ex-UFC fighter Sergio Pettis in the second round. Winning the Bellator championship with such ease has helped Patchy’s case to be recognized as one of the best bantamweights in the world. 

Patchy Mix, image – SportsKeeda

Of his 19 career wins, 15 have been by-finish, with 13 coming by submission. Patchy is a force to be reckoned with inside the octagon, with an aggressive fighting style that allows him to quickly gain control of the fight. His ability to read his opponents and quickly adapt to their fighting style sets him apart. He always keeps his opponents on their back foot, making it difficult for them to do anything offensively. Additionally, his grappling skills are top-notch, and he can quickly get a takedown and immediately work for submissions when he sees any type of opening. With the PFL buying out Bellator. It will now be interesting to see how much further he can dominate.

Patchy Mix at weigh-in. Image – MMA Junkie

How Would He Do In The UFC?

At 30 years old and currently ranked #19th as the best Bantamweight Fighter in the world, Patchy would immediately make a jump in the UFC rankings. I could even see him making the jump to a contender, as well as giving Sean O Malley a hard time. However, he recently signed a multi-year deal with Bellator. This is unfortunate because seeing him in the UFC would be a treat. However, if you ever see a fight announcement for Patchy on social media, make sure you catch his fight. I guarantee that you will be satisfied.

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Image – DAZN

Many fans wondered whether Figueiredo would eventually make this move, given his struggles to cut to 125 pounds.  However, the UFC’s bantamweight division is one of if not the most talent rich divisions in the promotion.  In addition, many of the top fighters cut significant weight themselves.  Fighters such as Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley would likely enjoy a notable size and frame advantage against Figueiredo.  Rob Font similarly posed a significant danger to Deiveson.  Coming off of a stoppage loss, many wondered whether Figueiredo could endure the powerful punches from Font.   Conversely, despite his short notice loss to Cory Sandhagen, Rob Font had recently finished Adrian Yanez in devastating fashion.  Furthermore, despite Deiveson’s grappling skills, it was highly unclear whether he possessed enough strength to take down Font.  

In the fight itself, however, Deiveson quickly reminded viewers of his championship caliber.  He looked sharp and accurate on the feet, hurting Font with his signature power.  He also landed some very crafty single leg takedowns, and controlled Font later in the fight.  Font managed to stay in the fight and land some shots of his own.  These also demonstrated that Figueiredo’s chin is far from done, and perhaps even refreshed from cutting less weight.  Figueiredo won all three rounds on the judges’ scorecards, a feat that few in the division can lay claim to against Font.  

Figueiredo v Font, image – MMA Mania

Given his flyweight title reign, many will likely wonder whether he can capture another title at bantamweight.  Despite his impressive debut, the odds are stacked against him.  For as good as he looked, he’ll want to clean up some weaknesses moving forward.  Figueiredo still has defensive lapses at times, and often relies on single shots rather than combinations.  It is also unclear if he can impose his grappling upon fighters such as Merab Dvalishvili or Umar Nurmagomedov.  Moreover, at 35 years of age, his physical prime may be running out—particularly at bantamweight, where speed is pivotal.  However, he has the skills and determination to pose a challenge to anyone in the division.  He showed that his fearsome power translates to this new division, which itself makes him threatening.  

A potential matchup between Deiveson and another former champion in Dominick Cruz could prove interesting for both fighters.  It would be both a clash of styles and a battle of legends.  A win there would also give Figueiredo a chance to quickly enter title contention.

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Robelis Despaigne, image – MMA Junkie

How He’ll do in the UFC

It’s worth noting that Despaigne’s age might be a concern for some, as he’s already 35 years old. However, his one-shot power and damaging leg kicks should quickly carry him up in the rankings.  Of course, there are still some questions that need to be answered. For instance, how well will he be able to defend takedowns? And how will his cardio hold up, especially when he inevitably faces a durable fighter? These are all factors that will need to be considered as Despaigne begins his journey in the UFC. The 6’7 knockout artist also manages to cut down to 264 pounds, making him more difficult to stop.

Here is his last fight that lasted only 3 seconds! (Robelis Despaigne Instagram) As you can see, his power is not to be messed with. The Cuban native is fighting out of Temple MMA, and he’s been putting in the work and constantly improving. As soon as he gets time in the Octagon, he should be a more polished fighter. I can’t wait to see him in action and see how he evolves his game.

Robelis Despaigne, image – Sports Keeda

With this being an under-the-radar signing. I guarantee that there will be a “If you don’t know, now you know” video by Dana White. I hope he gets a good matchup, for instance, Shara Magomedov getting matched up against Bruno Silva so that we can see his skills. I’m beyond excited to see him fight in the octagon!

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Tom Aspinall wins interim title. Image – Pittsburg Post-Gazette

Jones had to cancel his fight with Stipe Miocic to hold his title due to a pec injury. The UFC has been speculating a mid-2024 return for Jones against Miocic. However, both fighters have retirement rumors glooming around them.

Jones v Miocic, image – ESPN

Fans have criticized and blasted Aspinall on social media for demanding a fight against Jones. They think that instead, he should take on someone else from the heavyweight division and defend his title. He has continued to stand by his own opinion on the matter. Jones says he is not fully satisfied with what he has done in his UFC career to date. UFC President Dana White has also confirmed that Miocic is the next in line for a shot at undisputed champion. White Jones dismissing Aspinall’s bold request on social media, he continues on in his pursuit of greatness. Many UFC fans still see him as a huge contender.

A matchup between Aspinall and Jones, they could shake up the octagon. Aspinall’s has proven his endurance and ability to take punches throughout his career. Statistically, he tends to throw more punches than Jones which poses both risk and reward. He has grappling skill even with the best in the heavyweight division.  He shows he has a versatile skill set with good head movements and strong strikes. Despite a six-inch reach disadvantage, the six-year age gap between the two could give Aspinall better chances than one may think. While a fight between Jones and Miocic could be more intriguing when taking the ages of the two and the popularity of the fight, Aspinall might be a more difficult opponent for Jones.

It’s not wrong to question whether Aspinall has proven himself enough to fight against a long time champion like Jones. But Aspinall’s fight history does paint a scary picture for Jones. He is proving himself as a well rounded fighter.

While this matchup is not on the radar as of right now, Aspinall calling out Jones does pose two interesting questions. Should Jones be stripped of his title since he hasn’t defended it in so long? And could Aspinall be a challenging opponent for Jones?

Tom Aspinall, image – MMA Weekly

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Beneil Dariush, Image-MMA Fighting

How The Fight Went

After losing his eight-fight win streak against Charles Oliveira. Beneil needed to get back into the win column against the up-and-coming phenom Arman Tsarukyan to stay in contention. Entering as a +240 underdog. Both of Arman’s losses in the UFC came against Southpaws, making this fight a 50/50 fight. Also, Dariush came into the fight with an outstanding 80% takedown defense and five wins by submission. Everyone was eager to see how this fight was going to pan out.

During the fight’s initial moments, Dariush kept Arman at bay with his leg kicks and a couple of quick strikes. However, Arman quickly closed the gap, threw a knee to the chin that just nicked him, and proceeded to hit Beneil with an overhand right, leaving him unconscious. Everyone knew how dangerous Arman was, especially with his wrestling, but nobody saw this knockout coming, or at least within the first minute. With a record of 22-6-1 and back-to-back losses in the first round, Dariush finds himself in an interesting spot.

Beneil Dariush, Image-MMA Fighting

`What’s Next?

Dariush’s recent back-to-back losses by knockout have certainly been a setback for him, but it’s unlikely he will fall out of the top ten in the Middleweight division. Despite the losses, Dariush remains an elite southpaw fighter with great submissions and takedown defense, making him a problem for anyone in the division. While his title dream may be done, there are still plenty of fighters in the top 15 that he can beat, or compete with, competitively. And his skills and experience make him a gatekeeper hard to get through. It will be exciting to see who his next opponent is.

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Ranked in top 5 after UFC 295. Image – The Economic Times – India Times

In just his second fight at light heavyweight, Alex faced a dangerous Jiri Prochazka.  Jiri caught Alex with powerful strikes and took him down in round 1.  Although Alex struggled to figure out Jiri’s unorthodox style, he remained defensively responsible throughout the fight.  He also used his signature leg kicks to great effect.  In the final exchange, Jiri actually caught Alex with a powerful cross.  However, Alex found his window of opportunity and caught Jiri with two sharp hooks.  Although some questioned the stoppage initially, this controversy has seemingly subsided.  In the meantime, the new champion has exciting opportunities to look forward to.

The most obvious challenge comes from Jamahal Hill, the former light heavyweight champion who vacated due to injury.  Both fighters are powerful strikers, and the fight would bring some much needed unity to the light heavyweight title.  Although Alex has the more decorated striking background, Jamahal has enjoyed a fast rise to the top.  Pereira has shown some defensive openings in his fights, and a clean shot from Jamahal could very well end the fight.

Jamahal Hill, image – Bleacher Report

In his post fight interview, Alex called out former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.  Although most in the community have dismissed the idea, the fight would benefit both parties.  Israel has given Alex his most recent loss.  The two have a longstanding rivalry spanning across both kickboxing and mixed martial arts.  For Israel, a title shot at light heavyweight presents a lucrative opportunity, especially having lost the belt again at middleweight.  The two fights they have had in the UFC have clearly delivered in terms of excitement and striking acumen.  

Adesanya v Pereira, UFC 281. Image – Sporting News

Despite Alex’s outstanding accomplishments in the UFC thus far, he still has yet to defend one of his titles.  From a skillset perspective, his striking technique gives him the ability to finish anyone.  That said, he is not untouchable on the feet by any means.  Furthermore, despite his improvements, his grappling remains an obvious weakness, especially at 205 pounds.  His story so far has been thrilling to watch, but the most intriguing chapters are still ahead for “Poatan.”

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                                                                    Deiveson Figueiredo, image-MMA Junkie

His Chances in Bantamweight

    At 35 years old, Figueiredo has to move up a weight class. After losing to Brandon Moreno for the fourth time since 2020, there was very little chance of getting another chance at the flyweight belt.

Figueiredo v Moreno, image – Sporting News

Fighting at bantamweight, Figueiredo is set to compete against top ten contender, Rob Font. Coming in as an underdog, Figueiredo saw how Cory Sandhagen wrestled his way to a win over Font, so he decided to bring in Henry Cejudo, who has won both the flyweight and bantamweight belts, to help him work on his wrestling. 

       Henry Cejudo, image – Yahoo Sports

How He Can Win

     If Figueiredo wants to win this fight, he will consider that he has a limited height and reach against a majority of his opponents, so he has to win on the ground. Figueiredo has the cardio to go 25 minutes, so a three-round fight shouldn’t be a problem. Also, Rob only has 46% takedown defense. Whereas, Figueiredo has three wins by submission in the UFC, and averages 1.8 submissions per 15 minutes.

Rob Font, image – MMA Fighting

Even as an underdog, I have Figueiredo winning this fight by decision. I don’t see him getting a title fight in the future, mainly because of how stacked this division is. If you look at the top 10 bantamweight fighters, excluding Font, I can see (maybe) one more win, but no more. Everyone in that division is elite, which makes a win really hard.

Make sure you watch Saturday night to see how Figueiredo does!

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In October of 2023, it was announced that the UFC and USADA will be ending their partnership as of December 31st, 2023. While such a drastic move seems out of the blue, it culminates after USADA CEO Travis Tygart, “went full Britney Spears and lost his mind,” according to Dana White. He continues, “Get ready, you’re probably gonna see him on Instagram dancing with knives.” Dana White doesn’t spare his tongue when it comes to business deals gone sour, and this is no exception. While this did seem out of the blue, there were many factors that the two entities disagreed on, and more than enough reasons to warrant a split.

A Brief History of USADA 

The United States Anti-Doping Agency began operation on October 1st, 2000. Since 2003, USADA has been controlled by a board of directors that is, “10 independent, experience, and professional individuals who are free from any conflict of interest, and who share the ideals and principles associated with USADA’s vision, mission, and core values,” according to usada.org. 

USADA and Lance Armstrong

USADA became part of the mainstream sports lexicon when in June 2012, they brought anti-doping charges against retired cyclist Lance Armstrong. Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles after losing a contested lawsuit against the anti-doping agency. USADA charges Armstrong with violations dating back to August of 1998. 

Armstrong’s violations included a range of charges involving EPO, exogenous testosterone, cortisone, and corticosteroids. He was convicted of the use, administration, trafficking, and covering up of these banned substances and many more. Most importantly, for USADA, this arbitration put their name in the mainstream consciousness of the sports world. 

USADA and the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative

An anonymous tip phoned in to the USADA in Summer of 2003 sparked the US Attorney’s office of Northern California to began investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative. ThiS lab was responsible for supplying hundreds of athletes illegal steroids and growth hormones spanning two decades. Notable athletes snared in this sting include MLB stars Barry Bonds and Benito Santiago. Boxer Shane Mosley was also caught being supplied illicit steroids. A number of Oakland Raiders were named as recipients, including Bill Romanowski and Tyrone Wheatley. Victor Conte, owner of BALCO, was also prosecuted for supplying “vitamin supplements” to the 1988 men’s olympic Judo team. 

Illegal steroids and human growth hormone were found in boxes and cabinets labeled “steroids” and “human growth hormone,” while Victor Conte’s home and office were being raided.

Partnering With The UFC

In June 2015, USADA CEO Travis Tygart and UFC President Dana White initiated the first independent anti-doping program in combat sports. This was supposed to lay the groundwork in making MMA a safer, more mainstream sport. As much as Dana White has cultivated an image of, let’s say casual indifference, the company itself has tried many times to garner widespread acceptance. From working with John McCain in adopting the unified rules, to escalating TV and sponsorship deals, the UFC has not hidden its ambition as a company. They sought USADA to lend them the same credibility that any other sport would garner, given fair rules and cheat free play. However, this is MMA and if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying. 

The Case For Better Testing

With State Athletic Panels doing all of the drug screening before USADA, consistency was lacking. One of the initial appeals was that USADA was bringing much needed unity to drug screenings. UFC 183 was hailed as a great comeback for Anderson Silva. He fought Nick Diaz to an unanimous decision. After the fight, the Nevada State Athletic Commission found enough substances to fail both fighters’ drug tests. Nick for marijuana, and Silva for anabolic steroids. 

Image – MMA Weekly

From here, the story gets weird. Nick Diaz is known to be contentious, and had been on the NSAC’s radar for bad behavior. They gave him a fine and a five year suspension.

Aderson Silva was suspended for one year. This is despite the fact that anabolic steroids are far more performance than the devil’s lettuce. The idea that personal grudges from governing officials could impact a fighter for five years seemed like arbitrary overreach. 

Third Party And Unified

When USADA took control of the UFC’s drug testing in June of 2015, they put in place a clear marker of before and after. MMA fans call everything before the “pre-USADA” days. After some initial hiccups in the system, an order presented itself. Fighters in the top ten seemingly dropped off the radar overnight. The power left hand of Johnny Hendricks vanished over a summer. The end of 2016 saw Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida both served suspensions. The UFC achieved consistency, or so they believed. Established stars, as well as up and comers were all subject to the same rules throughout the organization. Rather than having varied lists between states, all banned substances were clearly listed and talked about by USADA.

Image – Bleacher Report

The harsh truth is that wherever there are systems to game, athletes will game them. Steroids are no different. However, the streamlined and trustworthy testing serviced USADA provided were out the gate a great success. 

A Great Failure

Brock Lesnar wanted to make a huge comeback in the UFC at a time when they were riding the high of a massive viewer jump due to Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey. Lesnar was active in the UFC heavy weight division between 2008-2011. In 2016 he hoped to regain his former glory, but one roadblock in his way were the new USADA rules requiring six months in the testing pool and two negative drug tests. Dana White didn’t have that kind of time. The rules were waived for Lesnar’s fight with Mark Hunt on UFC 200. Brock spent a month in the testing pool and after his fight, he tested positive for clomiphene. Clomiphene is a drug used to restore natural testosterone to the body after a cycle of anabolic steroids. This makes it a banned substance as per USADA. It can also enhance fertility in women.

Lesnar had his win over Mark Hunt overturned and received a one year suspension. USADA’s testing was interfered with for the sake of a PPV for the first time. But would it be the last?

Image – Aces Jiu Jitsu Club

No, It Wouldn’t Be The Last

I don’t know how one could write an article about failed drug tests without mentioning Jon Jones at least twice. There was the rumor about hiding underneath a training cage to hide from the test taker that turned out not to be a rumor at all. Jon Jones had multiple failed drug tests, some with the best excuses as to why. The one event I want to focus on came with UFC 232. Jon Jones failed several tests for turinabol in the lead up for his rematch against Alexander Gustafsson. The Nevada State Athletic Commission refused to license Jones after the test. The California State Athletic Commission agreed to grant Jones a license because of the microscopic amount of turinabol, but that meant moving the entire card in less than a week.

Image – Sporting News

Dana White being at odds with the USADA findings isn’t the crux of this story. The UFC accommodating Jones after failing drug tests shows preferential treatment to star athletes. To contrast, Jon Jones tested positive for 60 picograms per milliliter in his drug test. Jones’s exoneration was immediate. Tom Lawlor tested positive for ostarine at 17 picograms per milliliter. Lawlor’s suspension received no fanfare. Dana White didn’t take to twitter to justify Lawlor’s actions. Other athletes share similar troubles. 

The PED’s That Broke The Camel’s Leg

Conor McGregor snapped his leg almost off in July of 2021. Consequently, after his surgery McGregor removed himself from the USADA testing pool. His duration outside of the testing pool lasted almost two years. Subsequently, when McGregor attempted to enter the testing pool again, it broke the UFC. USADA disagreed on the timeframe McGregor should be granted to be able to fight. Considering that a situation like this had happened before with regards to Brock Lesnar, everyone involved needed to let cooler heads prevail. A sport known for violence isn’t the place for that to happen. 

Image – MMA Mania

What McGregor, Jones, and Lesnar have in common is that they are all huge earners for the UFC; also steroids. Dana White is more than willing to bend whatever rules are in place to make room for their main events. The Bottom Line is king, and whatever interferes has no room in the UFC. Moreover, the UFC existed before USADA’s drug testing. In my own opinion, it was USADA’s mistake to allow a bending of the rules in the first place. There is no living or dying by a sword with money heavily involved. 

Moving On

USADA made the promise of fair arbitration and evenhanded steroid monitoring. However, while they delivered this promise to a majority of the fighters in the UFC, it wasn’t all. There are things beyond what I’ve described that bothered me about USADA. They had no collective bargaining with fighters, despite having immense control over their career trajectories. USADA set times to drug test that interfered with fighter health and training. Their methods of enforcement stunk of favoritism. These gripes all lean towards a system slanted in favor of the company, and not the fighters. What I like about the UFC isn’t the UFC itself, it’s the fighters that make up the roster, and even then all but one. If an organization isn’t serving the fighters first, then I’ll shed no tears for its departure. 

The UFC will be partnering with the DFSI after January 1st, 2024. The UFC also hired George Piro to head their new anti-doping program. George Piro is a BJJ world champion, former FBI agent, and the lead interrogator of Saddam Houssein after his 2003 capture. When looking to drug test Jon Jones, it’s safe to say he might look under the cage. 

A Cautious Optimism

I am not a purist when it comes to steroids. Catastrophic injuries warrant some kind of allowance. I’m also a realist when it comes to athlete use of steroids. I know that there is a level of elite athlete that doesn’t test positive because of advanced evasion techniques, not because of a sense of equity in gamesmanship. I’m also aware that the new organizations and individuals in charge of UFC’s anti-doping are subject to the same fallible circumstances as USADA. There is no possibility of a completely clean sport. Ideally, I’d like to see a relaxation of what constitutes cheating and an end of preferential treatment to star athletes. I would like to see more fighter bargaining when it comes to arbitration. This is the UFC, though. It’s still ‘get what you get’. 

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In the wake of UFC 294, the immediate buzz has revolved around Khamzat Chimaev’s potential title shot against current champion Sean Strickland.  Amidst the chaos of a card with two last minute replacements, fans have quickly forgotten about Dricus Du Plessis.  Not long ago, Dricus defeated Robert Whittaker in a stunning upset.  The win seemingly made Du Plessis the de facto number one contender.  After a heated exchange with Israel Adesanya in the octagon, Du Plessis seemed to be on a collision course with “Stylebender.”  However, with Dricus unable to make the turnaround to compete at UFC 293, Sean Strickland stepped in to face Adesanya.  Sean’s dramatic upset over Israel threw a major spanner in the works.

Initially, the promotion seemed keen on giving Adesanya a rematch.  Recently, however, the former champion has announced his intention to take an extended break.  Even so, Khamzat Chimaev’s highly anticipated return to competition has suddenly stolen the show.  Chimaev’s close win over Kamaru Usman has suddenly propelled the former welterweight standout into title talks.

Image – MMA Weekly

Dricus Du Plessis has built an impressive resume so far in the UFC’s middleweight division.  He scored notable wins against top contenders such as Derek Brunson and Darren Till.  Most fans and analysts, however, pegged him as a huge underdog against Robert Whittaker. Dricus had demonstrated questionable cardio and fight IQ, which people expected Whittaker to exploit.  Despite his losses to Adesanya, Whittaker had clearly cemented himself as the division’s number one contender.  Dricus shocked the world by finishing Whittaker in the second round.  Moreover, he scored an emphatic takedown at the end of the first round.  This win was no fluke, as Dricus absorbed solid strikes from Whittaker early on.  Du Plessis adjusted quickly and dominated Whittaker in the grappling exchange before decisively stopping him.                                                                                                                                                               

Regardless of whether Du Plessis gets the next title shot or not, he has undoubtedly cemented himself as a top contender in the division.  With his current momentum and physical gifts, he presents a unique problem for anyone in the division.  The South African standout may have taken a back seat for now, but he will not be far from the title. 

Image – talkSPORT

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