The Most Underrated Fight At UFC 285

The UFC 285 card features a number of highly anticipated matchups, but one fight that has flown under the radar is the middleweight bout between Derek Brunson and Dricus Du Plesis. Despite the fact that both men are known for their exciting fighting styles and propensity for finishing fights, the matchup has been relegated to the preliminary card. This is a shame, as Brunson vs. Du Plesis is a fight that deserves a main card spot.

Derek Brunson is a veteran of the sport, having competed in the UFC since 2012. Over the course of his career, he has faced some of the best middleweights in the world, including former champion Israel Adesanya and former champion Robert Whittaker. Brunson is a powerful striker with excellent wrestling and submission skills. He has finished 13 of his 22 victories, with 9 of those coming by way of knockout.

Dricus Du Plessis, meanwhile, is a relative newcomer to the UFC. He made his debut in 2020 and has since amassed a 2-0 record in the organization. Du Plessis is a well-rounded fighter with knockout power and slick submissions. He has finished 15 of his 17 victories, with 9 of those coming by way of knockout.

Despite the fact that both men are known for their finishing ability, the UFC has barely promoted this fight. Instead, the company has shed more light on Bo Nickal vs. Jamie Pickett. Nickal is a 3 time NCAA champion and has submitted his past two opponents in a minute or less. He competed twice on Dana White's Contender Series and will make his official UFC debut tonight.

After losing his main card spot, Du Plessis vocalized his frustration at UFC media day. He made sarcastic remarks about how one day when he fights for the title, it'll be the opener on the early prelims. Despite being awarded multiple performance bonuses, he still lost his spot on the main card to someone making their UFC debut. Was that the right move on the UFC's end? That's up to you to decide.

This lack of promotion is unfortunate, as Brunson vs. Du Plessis is a fight that fight fans should be paying close attention to. Both men have the ability to end the fight at any moment, and this matchup has the potential to be a Fight of the Night candidate.

Although the UFC decided to bump this fight down to the preliminary card, it is up to the fans to give it the attention it deserves. Brunson vs. Du Plessis is a fight that should not be overlooked, and fans should tune in early to catch this exciting middleweight matchup.