UFC Champ Dricus Du Plessis Warned By Ex-Titleholder Against "Dangerous" Fight

"That’s the last person you wanna fight."

Former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo thinks there’s a fighter that poses a bigger threat to Dricus Du Plessis than both Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira.

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“Stillknocks” joined the UFC in 2021 after he claimed titles in EFC and KSW, and at UFC 297 last weekend the South African added another belt to his collection when he defeated Sean Strickland to become UFC middleweight champion.

Du Plessis has already suggested he'd like to settle his rivalry with Adesanya or potentially move up a weight class to challenge Pereira, and while Cejudo likes the idea of both of those fights he believes former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier may pose the biggest threat to the South African’s title reign.

Cannonier (right) has won back-to-back fights :: (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

"[Cannonier is] more of a dangerous fight than both Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “Stylistically, this guy can defend takedowns. This guy can strike. This guy is more well-rounded…Cannonier is just a bigger dude, he’s a tougher dude… Styles make fights. That’s the last person you wanna fight, and I guarantee that’s the last person that’s probably on Dricus’ mind.”

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Currently the UFC’s #4-ranked middleweight contender, Cannonier came up short in a title bid against Adesanya at UFC 276 but rebounded from that setback with decision wins over Strickland and Marvin Vettori.

Cejudo cited the performances against Adesanya and Strickland as reason for Du Plessis to be concerned about Cannonier, and ultimately “Triple C” believes that the South African will try to avoid that matchup in favor of a higher-profile outing with Pereira or Adesanya.

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