Lets be honest .. The man made a lot of us eat our words. Really impressive performance all the best DDP.

Dricus and Whittaker are true fighters, full of class inside and outside the octagon. Much respect.

I'm proud of this man. 🇿🇦

As a black south african. We all love dricus and respect him. Hes done our country proud! ❤

As an Aussie, I was rooting for Whittaker, but you have my utmost respect Dricus! The better man on the night and very humble and respectful in victory! A true role model for what MMA is all about, you’ve gained a new fan!

“I’m white boy and I’m jacked deal with it” - Dricus “Black Panther” Du Plessis

I'm a Cape Coloured from Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦 We are kak proud of you mybru, don't let that dom nai get to you Dricus. You representing us well. RSA stand up!! 🇿🇦👏🏽

This guy is class, got yourself a new fan good sir

Dricus has already become my favourite UFC fighter for 2023. What a gentleman and warrior!!!

What a fucking win Dricus. Made the whole of South Africa proud yet again! 🔥🇿🇦

Izzy with the most disgusting open racism on live TV ever and this guy handled it with pure class by just walking away 👏

Well done Dricus. Nou gaan ons braai

Wasn’t expecting that! The guy has class and handled Izzy’s bs perfect. 👍

This man conducts himself impeccably .Hope he gets major success.

Well done. I sounded repetitive in the barbershop praising this gentleman and was proved right. Support from New Zealand brother.

I predicted Whittaker the way he wanted, Dricus shut my mouth. Respect

“I’m African but I ain’t no brother of yours son” 🔥🔥🔥🔥

I'm African and many of us look up to him it's not about the color it's about the actions 👍🏿

I’m South African and the most disgusting thing was the fans not giving this man a chance since day one

Wow! Dricus a true champion! Spoke like a true gentleman. What a great human being

Well done DDP. You handled Izzy racist, drunk, disgusting behavior like a true champion. Congratulations!

TKO in the second. He called it. 100% oxygen. Drunken boxing. The African Champion rises.

Nothin but respect for this man after tonight.

He is the most underrated fighter in the UFC. Out of 22 fights, 20 wins, 19 of them before time. He last lost a fight to Roberto Soldic in April 2018. Greetings from Poland to the former KSW champion

Damn it feels so good to see all the doubters now praising him and turning you all into fans. True South African spirit. Dricus u've made us so proud boet. A real role model. And NEW! 🇿🇦💪

Bring that belt to South Africa Dricus🇿🇦🔥🔥

Well, I'll admit, I thought Rob would have a pretty dominant performance whether by decision or TKO. However, Dricus proved himself today with the best performance of his in the UFC. His cardio seems to have taken a complete 180 from last time out. That fixed nose really seems to have fixed the issue. He was putting the pace and pressure on Rob, and he wasn't slowing down. You could tell Rob was breaking to some degree after experiencing Dricus' expertise on the ground and being relatively ineffective at dealing serious damage to slow Dricus' advance. Rob was the more technical striker, unsurprisingly, but also unsurprisingly, he eventually got caught, and all it took was one clean shot by Dricus. That guy hits hard, even without crazy looping shots like we've seen in the past. Dricus really showed his grappling abilities, improved defense, improved cardio, resilience, and most importantly his heart and will to win. The power of belief. He felt unstoppable, like nothing Rob threw could really hurt him as he soldiered ever onward. Congratulations, Dricus! You've more than earned a title shot. To all the South African fans, I'm sorry I ever doubted your boy. He's legit.

He was doing a pretty nice job embracing the role of a heel when the fans wanted him to be one but he seems like a real decent, honorable guy at heart. Super impressive showing of physical skills & true character. Happy for him & looking forward to seeing more from him in the future.

What a night for Dricus ! Love the way he carries himself.

So many people including myself counted this guy out and basically gave him no chance against Whittaker. The way he just walked away from Izzy showed maturity and class. I think Izzy wins against him but would love to see that match up. He definitely deserves it.

Dricus is real champion. Greetings from 🇵🇱

What a gentleman. Good for you Drikus.

Loved his answer regarding Isreal’s behavior that Isreal is not a champion of a man. DDP acts with class and is a champion that people can look up to. Really rooting for him in the title fight.

Well done Dricus you made us proud love from SOuth Africa! 🇿🇦👏🏽 🇿🇦👏🏽

Even though a lot of people lost money, but he gained a lot of fans tonight, myself included. Cheers to him, best of luck with Izzy. I’ll be rooting for him!

Been a South African I'm so Proud Of Dricus I always knew since I saw Dricus when he was 19 he was something special and when he ends Adesanya Reign He'll make History as the first True African South African MMA UFC champion of the world!!!

I lost money betting against this guy but I'm not even that upset, anyone who managed to do that to Rob has my respect

Du Plessis speaking facts. Once a South African is on an international platform like this especially if there are a pioneer at whstever they do, so much is on the line

This guy is what a champ is supposed to be, Humble, Gentle and friendly yet shown to be a complete master of his art. Compare that to some of these other fighters who ONLY shit talk and slur. This is what we should look up to, this is a role model.

Dricus has proven he’s a truly dangerous contender. The build up to the adesanya fight will be crazy. Stay a gentleman while the champ disgraces himself, I’m backing you future champ!

"WEEZ WAZ KANGZ N SHEET!" - Israel "Genderbender" Adesanya 2023

This man is doing all what he said he would do and shushing all the naysayers. Gotta respect the heart and class this man has.

Class act. Confident and properly credits the people that helped him get there and his opponent.

Izzy dropped the ball bigtime, he was like a kid being dismissed by an adult in there.

We are proud of of you Dricus, Cameron and the Springboks RSA dominance in Sporting World.

Jizzrael: vulgar, arrogant, ugly Dricus: well-spoken, humble, handsome

So Proud fellow South African.❤

Aussie here, ya earned my respect big fella. Good luck vs the champ

The respect he shows to his counterparts is something I admire. What a champ

We’re rooting for you Dricus!!! From America 🇺🇸

As a South African I am so proud of Dricus, he did say we must prepare to be amazed but I didn't expect it to happen the way it did, congratulations to DDP South Africa 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 is proud.

I chose Robert to win by decision but my hats off to this man. He had a hell of a game plan and he showed the world where he belongs in the middleweight division. Congrats and good luck in the title fight with Iz. Go get em champ!!

This guy is super humble and super respectful. You gained many many new fans today Sir 👏🏻👏🏻 Hope you kick Izzy’s teeth in

This young fella has class, is well spoken, precisly sharp, & acts like an adult. Too bad these are rare qualities present in most people today...

Israel Adesanya represents China not Nigeria or New Zealand

A future star in the making. One my new favorite fighters now. Dricus is so well spoken and knows how to sell a fight too with how he talked back to Izzy’s stupid antics in the cage lol

I doubted this man big time including most of the world! What a crazy awesome finish! All respect to this man can’t count him out now since he beat one of the best! 🔥👊

You handle yourself like a true champ. Izzy's behavior was disgusting. You made SA proud🇿🇦🇿🇦

Mad respect for you Dricus

I sincerely hope Dricus gives izzy the humbling he so deserves

Dricus du plessis 🔥🔥🇿🇦 represents he country in the best way possible

Wasn’t a fan… after him showing so much respect and being such a professional. Really hoping DDP becomes champ

I'm officially a fan of this man. He's a savage and a gentleman

Honestly didn’t really like this guy at first but I’ve got to give it to him, he converted me with his actions. Puts respect on everybody and holds himself like a gent, can’t dislike it!

Dricus beat a highly prepared & prime Robert, that's so crazy to think about. It wasn't even a flukey kinda win, he timed that punch so well & no one else has been able to do that to Robert. Definitely can see Dricus giving problems to the man-child Jizzrael when they fight.

Always a Whittaker fan, good performance by DDP

I love the Respect he gave Whittaker 😊

This press conference was honestly amazing love the respect he has

DDP is all class. He has picked up a new fan today!

A fucking champ. Africa represent 💪💪🏿

Been a fan of this guy from the start, fantastic performance and really nice down to earth guy. Shame about how Izzy went on after the fight absolutely disgusting I thought.

Never felt so proud to be South African thank you Du Plessis🇿🇦!

I like this guy. Gives his opponent their due credit and seems a classy guy. Need more guys like this

Talk about an upset! Air du Plessis putting hands on Rob is by far thr most incredible thing i have witness! And izzy acting like a child is just so disgusting! Big ups to the REAL AFRICAN DDP😊

Man i gotta give this man his props he went out there and shut people's mouth's

As a South African myself, I'm hella proud of Dricus❤🇿🇦

I have to admit as an Aussie and a big Whitaker fan, Dricus just earned himself a new fan. This guy proved all of the doubters wrong, he is the real deal. Best of luck to him against Izzy. Hopefully Izzy wont get into his head too much. Izzy must know he needs to break him mentally if he sees him as a big threat to his title.

Sucked seeing Rob lose but all credit to Dricus for that performance and the respect and admiration he speaks of Rob is very classy. Good luck to him, hope he goes on to get that belt. Will eat some biltong in his honour if he gets it done 🤙

This guy is well spoken and calm, I lost some money because he won but now I'm glad he won because we will see Adesanya vs Du Plessis. Du Plessis will take the head off Adesanya.

DDP didn't need to embarrass Izzy. Izzy embarrassed himself by opening his dirty mouth

Rooting for Dricus from now on!

This guy just won a legion of fans. Respect DDP, I didn’t think you could get past Rob but you did. Last time I EVER doubt you. A warrior and a gentleman.

Youre making us proud Drickus! Love from SA 🇿🇦

My man still knocks out there representing 🇿🇦

Been following Drizzy,its been a journey from efc to ufc! Now I can't wait for Izzy vs Drizzy!

Thank you so much DDP you are our Hero

2 nostril DDP is a threat to anyone

Starting to be a fan of this dude, especially how he dealt with Adesanya

I've been to 2 of Izzy's Glory fights + his 2nd UFC fight but that was wrong... Du Plessis said he would be the 1st African champ & made it clear it was about him being born + raised + CURRENTLY still living + fighting out of Africa which means lot more then just skin pigments...

Lekker Wen Dricus Ek is Baie Trots van Jou. Dankie Meneer 🇿🇦 South Africa let's go

DDP mauls and submits the Cringebender on the ground same way the Tittybender dominates him on the feet(most likely). With that being said DDP by whatever he wants to claim the title of true African. We are behind you Dricus🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦

As a South African, i have been an Izzy fan for a while...Then Pereira showed up and i saw how immature Izzy is. Certainly rooting for DDP (Want a South African UFC Champ). Shout out to the Boks as well for beating the Aussies.

CLASS. Not enough of this in mma today. Well done!

Wow I never thought I'd like dricus more after beating Whittaker. Rooting for him against izzy

My favorite fighter is GSP, calm, respectful but hella great, possible the GOAT. Love seeing fighters like Robert and now DDP to carry that torch. Martial arts is about discipline, respect and the competitive spirit showcased.

First fight I watched in long time, so worth waking up for🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦 Well done Dricus and we'll said

Guy certainly has the charisma of a great champion.

I’m a die hard Whittaker fan but I was still happy seeing DDP win. Class act

So proud of you Dricus. You're a great athlete and deserve your title shot. You beat a really great fighter. Now go get the title and make all us South Africans proud.

Izzys behaviour after the fight is what makes it so hard to like him as much as i try to the way he conducted himself was quite appalling