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Mike Tyson's former trainer defends Dricus Du Plessis: "He's smarter than you think"

The UFC middleweight champion's unorthodox fighting style continues to prove doubters wrong.

Dricus Du Plessis celebrates after defeating Darren Till during a UFC...
Dricus Du PlessisJohn LocherAP Photo

Dricus Du Plessis has once again silenced critics with his dominant victory at UFC 312 over former champion Sean Strickland. Despite being mocked for his unconventional, almost awkward fighting approach, the South African fighter has consistently defied expectations. His latest performance was so impressive that even legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas came to his defense.

Speaking on his YouTube show The Fight with Teddy Atlas, the former coach of Mike Tyson analyzed Du Plessis' technique and dismissed the idea that his style is ineffective. "He's better than he looks. Yeah, he's big and strong, but he's also smarter than you think he is," Atlas stated. He highlighted how Du Plessis uses deceptive movements to confuse his opponents, making it difficult to predict his next attack.

Todas las finalizaciones de Dricus du Plessis en UFC

What's next for the middleweight king?

Du Plessis has now cemented his status as the top middleweight in the UFC, but the question remains-who will challenge him next? While several contenders are in the mix, including Nassourdine Imavov, all eyes are on Khamzat Chimaev as the likely opponent.

Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo believes Du Plessis is ready for the challenge. Speaking on his Pound 4 Pound podcast, Cejudo confidently predicted, "I think he beats up Khamzat Chimaev. I don't think he'll be easily submitted-I think DDP is scrambly."

As the debate continues over who is the true king of the 185-pound division, one thing is clear, Dricus Du Plessis is here to stay. Will his unorthodox style be enough to defend his title against Chimaev? Let us know what you think!

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