Opinion: How Long Can Dricus Du Plessis Stay on Top?

Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed below are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sherdog.com, its affiliates and sponsors or its parent company, Evolve Media.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Jan. 20 made its long-awaited return to Toronto with UFC 297, and while the card as a whole may not have lived up to expectations, fans at least got to witness history with the crowning of the promotion’s first-ever champion from South Africa.

Dricus Du Plessis defeated Sean Strickland by close split decision—48-47, 48-47, 47-48—in the five-round main event to capture the undisputed UFC middleweight title and end the Californian’s brief reign atop the…