UFC Offered Dricus Du Plessis a One-Night Four-Man Light Heavyweight Tournament for Title Shot

Dricus Du Plessis, known as "Stillknocks," recently shared his intentions to move up to the light heavyweight division to pursue a second UFC championship. He returned to the octagon at UFC Oklahoma, where he dominated Kamaru Usman and secured a unanimous decision victory. Although regaining the middleweight title remains his main goal, Du Plessis has not dismissed the idea of competing at 205 pounds when the timing feels right.

UFC's Unusual Offer: One-Night Tournament Proposal

Du Plessis' coach, Morne Visser, revealed that the UFC approached their camp with an unconventional offer. The promotion suggested a one-night, four-man tournament to determine the next challenger for light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg. The participants would have been Dricus Du Plessis, Jiri Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev, and Navajo Stirling.

Visser explained on the Fight Forecast podcast that UFC asked them roughly three weeks prior to consider moving Du Plessis up to 205 pounds and join this tournament pool. The concept was for the fighters to compete in multiple bouts that same night — first the initial matches, then the winners facing off, and finally, the tournament winner challenging Ulberg. This format resembles a Grand Prix style but hasn't been used by UFC since its early days.

Why Du Plessis' Team Declined

The team declined the offer because Du Plessis isn't naturally a light heavyweight. He cuts over 45 pounds to make the middleweight limit, so jumping to 205 pounds without proper preparation would be tough. Visser emphasized that simply gaining weight wouldn't suffice to face seasoned light heavyweights, especially with only a few weeks to prepare.

Du Plessis is currently focusing on recovery after his honeymoon, with plans to return to action in early 2027, likely around late February or March. The move to light heavyweight remains in his long-term plans, but his camp prefers not to rush the transition.

Potential Matchup and Future Prospects

With talks of a possible fight against Magomed Ankalaev at light heavyweight circulating, Du Plessis has some big decisions ahead. For now, he continues prioritizing his middleweight career while keeping the door open for a future step up in weight class.

Summary of the Proposed Tournament Fighters

• Dricus Du Plessis
• Jiri Prochazka
• Magomed Ankalaev
• Navajo Stirling