Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. When the dust settles at the end of this battle, only one
middleweight will likely be ranked. ESPN
first brought word of the upcoming matchup between Dricus Du
Plessis (16-2) and Andre Muniz
(21-4) on Tuesday night. The two 185-pounders will come to blows at
UFC
269 on Dec. 11 at an undetermined location. It is unclear if
this all-action middleweight scrap will be placed on the main card
or the prelims, but the two combine for 34 stoppages in their 37
career wins.
South Africa’s Du Plessis has made a statement since joining the
UFC following stoppages of Joilton
Lutterbach and Brendan
Lesar in KSW and Extreme Fighting Championship, respectively. In
his promotional debut, “Stillknocks” became the first man to finish
Markus
Perez, doing so in a little under three and a half minutes. His
sophomore effort was no less impressive, handing Trevin
Giles his first knockout loss in July. Du Plessis has never
gone the distance, win or lose, in his 18-fight career.
“Sergipano” scored the biggest win of his career in his third UFC
bout, when he faced Ronaldo
Souza and snapped the legend’s arm with an armbar in the
opening frame. The 31-year-old out of Brazil became the first man
in MMA competition to submit “Jacare,” although he did so by
technical submission when Souza did not tap in time. Muniz finds
himself on a seven-fight win streak including a pair of victories
on Dana White’s Contender Series to earn a
contract and start the major run he is on today. Wins inside the
Octagon over Antonio
Arroyo and Bartosz
Fabinski led to his pairing with Souza in May, with a test in
which he passed with flying colors.
UFC 269 does not currently have a location or venue established,
but it will take place on Dec. 11. The main attraction sees
lightweight gold on the line when Charles
Oliveira makes his first defense against ex-interim champ
Dustin
Poirier. The co-headliner also puts up a belt, when Amanda
Nunes aims to tie Ronda
Rousey’s record with her sixth straight defense, and she will
face Julianna
Pena at bantamweight.
