UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez
Las Vegas, USA
8 Jul 2023
Middleweight
VS
42%
Whittaker
58%
Plessis
Win Probability
KO/TKO
Round 2 · 2:23
Robert
Robert Whittaker
"The Reaper"
27 – 9
6'0"73" reachOrthodox35 yrs2-fight slideWell-Rounded
CFR 53
Dricus
Dricus Du Plessis
"Stillknocks"
23 – 3
Well-Rounded32 yrsSwitch76" reach6'1"
CFR 74

Combatrics Intelligence

Data-driven breakdown · fighter metrics

Edge: Plessis

This is a genuine toss-up — Whittaker at 42% vs Plessis at 58% (CFR ratings). One of the hardest fights to call on the card.

Key angles

The CFR gap of 20 points suggests a clear performance difference on paper.

Plessis has the striking edge in both volume and accuracy.

Risk flags

Whittaker's chin rating of 16 flags durability concerns based on KO history.

Whittaker
Plessis
Physical Matchup
Height · Reach · Age · Stance
6'0"
Height
+6'1"
73"
Reach
+76"
35
Age
+32
Orthodox
Stance
Switch
Whittaker
Plessis
Composite Fighter Rating
Overall score combining performance, win quality, momentum & durability
53.4
73.5
56.0
Performance Avg
65.6
46
Quality of Victory
49
71
Momentum Score
100
Whittaker
Plessis
Striking
Significant strikes per minute & accuracy
1.4
2.2
44%
Strike Accuracy
53%
5.0
Striking Style Score (/10)
6.2
6 KOs
KO Finishes
4 KOs
Strike targetStrike target
7
Head
25
0
Body
2
2
Leg
6
RangeRange
8Distance20
1Clinch8
0Ground5
Whittaker
Plessis
Grappling
Takedowns, submissions & wrestling
—
—
—
Sub Attempts / fight
0.1
1.6
Grappling Style Score (/10)
2.6
1.1
Wrestling Style Score (/10)
1.8
0:00
Control Time (this fight)
0:00
0
Reversals
0
Whittaker
Plessis
Durability / Chin
Resilience against knockouts and stoppages
16
98
KO risk
Verdict
Never stopped
3
KO/TKO Losses
0
1
Sub Losses
0
Avg R1.7 stoppage
KO round context
—
5 fights ago
Last KO loss
—
—
Strikes absorbed / min
—
25/36 fights
Chin rating based on
10/26 fights
Whittaker
Plessis
Form & Momentum
Recent fight performance — most recent weighted 30%
71
100
2-fight 📉 slide
Current form
Upcoming
L · Dec · R5
L · Sub · R1
W · KO · R1
W · Dec · R3
Last 5
L · Dec · R5
W · Dec · R5
W · Sub · R4
W · Dec · R5
W · KO · R2
Whittaker
Plessis
Finish Rate
Percentage of wins by KO/TKO or Submission
35%
67%
6
KO / TKO Wins
4
0
Submission Wins
2
11
Decision Wins
3

Style Fingerprint

Combatrics radar — 6 fighting dimensions scored 0–10

Whittaker
Plessis
Striking5.0 / 6.2Volume6.6 / 4.5Grappling1.6 / 2.6Wrestling1.1 / 1.8Submission0.0 / 2.2Pressure4.6 / 7.4
Fighter 1
Fighter 2
5.0
Striking
KO power & stand-up volume
6.2
1.6
Grappling
Ground control & clinch
2.6
1.1
Wrestling
Takedown threat & defence
1.8
0.0
Submission
Submission attack frequency
2.2
4.6
Pressure
Clinch/ground work rate
7.4
6.6
Volume
Decision-pace fighting
4.5
Whittaker
Strike Zones
Plessis
Whittaker
Attacking
7HEAD0BODY2LEGS9 landed
Absorbing
25HEAD2BODY6LEGS33 absorbed
Plessis
Attacking
25HEAD2BODY6LEGS33 landed
Absorbing
7HEAD0BODY2LEGS9 absorbed
Targeting Overlap
🎯Whittaker targets the head (78% of attacks) — Plessis absorbs 78% of strikes there
🎯Plessis targets the head (76% of attacks) — Whittaker absorbs 76% of strikes there

Round by Round

This fight · per-round breakdown

Whittaker
RND
Plessis
0/0R00/0
0/0R10/0

Whittaker · QOF Timeline

Avg: 4.9
0104.5W5.5W5.7L2.1L4.5W5.2W5.0W4.5W4.5W5.3W5.2W4.5W4.5W3.5L4.5W5.5W4.8W6.9L5.3W4.7L5.5W6.7W3.4L6.5L2012-122015-052018-062022-092025-07
WinLossTrend

Plessis · QOF Timeline

Avg: 5.8
0105.0W5.5W4.5W5.5W5.5W6.2W5.6W6.8W5.6W7.4L2020-102022-122024-012025-08
WinLossTrend

Whittaker · Last 5

Upcoming
Nikita Krylov
UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 · 2026-07
L · Dec · R5
Reinier de RidderRating 6.5
Decision
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. De Ridder · 2025-07
L · Sub · R1
Khamzat ChimaevRating 3.4
Submission
UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway · 2024-10
W · KO · R1
Ikram AliskerovRating 6.7
KO/TKO
UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov · 2024-06
W · Dec · R3
Paulo CostaRating 5.5
Decision
UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria · 2024-02

Plessis · Last 5

L · Dec · R5
Khamzat ChimaevRating 7.4
Decision
UFC 319: Du Plessis vs. Chimaev · 2025-08
W · Dec · R5
Sean StricklandRating 5.6
Decision
UFC 312: Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 · 2025-02
W · Sub · R4
Israel AdesanyaRating 6.8
Submission
UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya · 2024-08
W · Dec · R5
Sean StricklandRating 5.6
Decision
UFC 297: Strickland vs. Du Plessis · 2024-01
W · KO · R2
Robert WhittakerRating 6.2
KO/TKO
UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodriguez · 2023-07

News & Media

Robert Whittaker · Dricus Du Plessis
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