Dricus Du Plessis-Andre Muniz Middleweight Affair Booked on UFC 269

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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.