World MMA Awards: Dricus Du Plessis Emerges Victorious

In a electrifying turn of events in the world of Mixed Martial Arts, South African UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis nabbed the International Fighter of the Year award at the Fighters Only World MMA Awards held in Las Vegas, outshining fellow titleholders Ilia Topuria and Zhang Weili, among others.

The accolade was awarded based on Du Plessis' impressive strides between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. During this period, Dricus conquered past 185-pound king Robert Whittaker with a second-round TKO at UFC 290 in Vegas, and then claimed the title of South Africa's first UFC champion by beating Sean Strickland via split decision at UFC 297 in Toronto.

Du Plessis was also recognized for the Charles Lewis Fighter of the Year award and the Upset of the Year award. However, UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira took home those trophies. A clash with Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney's February was rumored, but as of now, no formal announcement has been made on the matchup.

Instead, Du Plessis has expressed interest in challenging Khamzat Chimaev, the reigning "boogeyman" of the middleweight division, whose vicious submission win over Whittaker in October has made headlines. Although an official confirmation about the fight has yet to be released, insiders intimate that this tilt might indeed be the next for Dricus du Plessis. Stay tuned for more updates!

In unrelated news, UFC strawweight queen Zhang Weili claimed the Female Fighter of the Year award, with UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall taking home both the Breakthrough Fighter of the Year and Comeback of the Year awards. Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje's epic battle for the BMF belt at UFC 300 was named Fight of the Year, with Holloway also claiming the Knockout of the Year honors. Diego Lopes' triangle armbar on Gavin Tucker at UFC Nashville won the Submission of the Year award, and UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman nabbed the Lifetime Achievement award and the Fighting Spirit award for his heroic act of rescuing his family and loved ones from a burning building.

Despite Dricus du Plessis' success in the sports world, a potential middleweight fight with Khamzat Chimaev remains unconfirmed.
UFC's FightingSherdogmma reported that Dricus du Plessis might be facing the 'boogeyman' of the middleweight division in his next bout.
With his impressive victories, Dricus du Plessis won the International Fighter of the Year award and was also nominated for the Charles Lewis Fighter of the Year award.
UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira took home the Charles Lewis Fighter of the Year award and the Upset of the Year award, leaving Dricus du Plessis empty-handed.
In an electrifying turn of events, South African sports player Dricus du Plessis, the new UFC middleweight champion, nabbed the International Fighter of the Year award at the Fighters Only World MMA Awards.