Dricus Du Plessis walked into UFC 312 with one goal—erase any doubt about his supremacy at middleweight. He had already beaten Sean Strickland once at UFC 297, but this time, he wanted something definitive. No debates. No split decisions. And that’s exactly what he delivered.

For five grueling rounds, the South African champion overwhelmed Strickland, leaving him battered and with a broken nose. The result? A unanimous decision victory and the belt still wrapped around his waist. Yet, even as he basks in the glory of his latest title defense, the latest P4P rankings update wasn’t as kind as he might have hoped for!

Dricus Du Plessis’s P4P aspirations dealt a heavy blow in rankings update after UFC 312  

In an interview with ESPN MMA ahead of UFC 312, Dricus Du Plessis had confessed, “I also want to go up and get another belt. And ultimately I want to be seen as the greatest fighter to ever walk this Earth. That is my ultimate goal and that is what keeps me going no matter what you achieve.”

The current top spots on the UFC’s P4P list are held by Islam Makhachev at number 1 and Jon Jones at number 2. So, ‘Stillknocks’ dominant win at UFC 312 should mean a significant jump up the list, right?

Well, according to an update shared on X by John Morgan, “Following #UFC312, @dricusduplessis moves up one spot to No. 6 in the latest pound-for-pound rankings update.”

Hardly the seismic leap he might have envisioned. Meanwhile, his former foe, Sean Strickland, took a heavy fall—dropping to No. 15 on the list. To add salt to the wound, Strickland also lost his No. 1 middleweight contender spot to Nassourdine Imavov.

Ambition is one thing. Execution is another. While Dricus Du Plessis has proven to be a relentless force, there are still obstacles standing between him and his dreams of taking over the P4P throne from Islam Makhachev.

Khamzat Chimaev, the undefeated wrecking machine, looms large as the next challenger for his middleweight crown. With Dana White confirming ‘Borz’s status as the upcoming challenge, if Du Plessis truly wants to leave no doubt about his dominance, he’ll have to go through Chimaev first.

Then, there’s the light heavyweight question. Moving up isn’t just about adding pounds—it’s about facing bigger, stronger opponents who hit harder and can take more punishment. And standing in his way will be Alex Pereira, a man who has made a career out of defying the odds and handing out KOs left, right and center!

‘Stillknocks’ confirms Alex Pereira is in his crosshairs but ‘Borz’ remains first in line

Dricus Du Plessis isn’t just thinking about defending his middleweight title—he’s already plotting his next conquest. The South African powerhouse believes he can move up to 205 pounds and take out the reigning light heavyweight king, Alex Pereira.

After dispatching Sean Strickland for the second time, Du Plessis locked eyes with Pereira, who was in ‘Tarzan’s corner for the bout. Without hesitation, he shouted, “Since he’s standing across the Octagon… Is there no one else? Is there no one else?”

The confrontation didn’t end inside the cage. Backstage, the two champions ran into each other, and Du Plessis didn’t hesitate to double down. During the post-fight press conference, he revealed, “I think he is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. I have the most respect for him for what he’s done in a short period of time in the UFC to come from another sport… I want to share the octagon with that man. I’ve beaten [Israel] Adesanya, who has beaten him. I know I can beat him, and at 205 [pounds], 100%.”

But before this clash of champions can become a reality, both men have obstacles to clear. Pereira is locked in for a title defense against the dangerous Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.

Meanwhile, Du Plessis has business to handle at middleweight as he further shared, “I want to be the greatest to ever do this, but Khamzat is next, Khamzat is next, and I’m gonna make sure that there’s no question I’m the GOAT of the middleweight division.”

To wrap things up, Dricus Du Plessis wants it all. From middleweight dominance to double-champ status and more importantly, a place atop the P4P throne. But the road ahead is paved with giants. Khamzat Chimaev lurks in the shadows, eager to test the South African’s reign at 185 pounds.  And beyond that, Alex Pereira, a knockout artist with a penchant for dismantling dreams, waits at 205 pounds. Will Dricus Du Plessis clear his path and make his light-heavyweight dream a reality? Will he be able to topple Islam Makhachev’s reign as the P4P no. 1 fighter in the UFC? Let us know what you think in the comments below!