KSW’s Du Plessis not injured; moving up to middleweight on doctors’ orders

On Tuesday, MMA Fighting reported that former KSW welterweight champion Dricus Du Plessis (12-2) was out of his KSW 47 matchup with fellow former champion, Borys Mankowski.

The report listed an undisclosed injury as the source of Du Plessis’ withdrawal, and KSW’s official website likewise cites an injury as the cause for forcing the South African out of the fight. However, in conversations with The Body Lock, Du Plessis revealed new details.

Du Plessis shared, “I am actually healthy and in the best shape of my life.”

However, during Du Plessis’ training camp, consultation with doctors led to a significant development.

“We always keep a very close eye on my health and the doctors have decided that for me to cut to 77 kg [170 lbs] is just not healthy anymore and too dangerous for the longevity of my career,” Du Plessis wrote.

Rather, Du Plessis told The Body Lock, a move back up to middleweight is in the works: “I will now compete at 84 kg [185 lbs].”

Since the former two-weight EFC champion is healthy, he’d like to be booked as soon as possible.

“I’m ready for anyone at 84kg and I’m ready right now so I hope they can give me a fight asap,” he wrote.

The 25-year-old has fought at middleweight in the past, capturing the EFC middleweight title in 2017. He has fought eight times at 185 pounds, including his first six professional bouts.

Du Plessis also lamented over missing the fight with Mankowski, writing, “It’s very sad for me that I can’t fight Borys.”

Du Plessis has won four of his last five, most recently losing his KSW title to Roberto Soldić, the man he took the title from, in the pair’s rematch. He was set to take on Mankowski at KSW 47, which was set to take place on March 23.

It is unclear whether or not KSW will attempt to book Du Plessis at middleweight for KSW47.

The KSW title in the middleweight division is vacant following the retirement of longtime champion Mamed Khalidov. The division is one of KSW’s best, featuring the likes of Scott Askham, Michał Materla, Damian Janikowski, and others.