Du Plessis Rejects UFC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix

Dricus du Plessis will not participate in a UFC light heavyweight grand prix, his coach confirmed this week.

The promotion approached du Plessis about joining a four-man tournament to determine Carlos Ulberg's next challenger, according to MMA Mania. The bracket would have featured du Plessis alongside former champions Jiri Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev, and Stirling, with all four competing on a single night and the winners meeting in a finale.

Morne Visser, du Plessis' head coach, rejected the proposal three weeks ago. "I said no because it's very easy to go up to 205, but it took me a year to get Dricus from Welterweight to Middleweight," Visser told Fight Forecast. "To put on the weight means absolutely nothing. Anyone can put on weight — just eat. We need to get the power up."

Du Plessis currently cuts roughly 45 pounds to make middleweight, which sparked the light heavyweight speculation after he dominated Kamaru Usman in July at UFC Oklahoma City. Visser said the move to 205 is inevitable but needs proper preparation. He wants du Plessis to reclaim the middleweight belt from Sean Strickland first and defend it once before moving up.

Du Plessis owns two wins over Strickland and called for another title shot after stopping Usman. He is targeting a return in late February or March 2027 after his honeymoon, with a potential matchup against surging contender Brendan Allen on the table if he stays active at middleweight.