Dricus Du Plessis says he is surprised the Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland fight was even a split decision, calling the outcome clear and pushing back on the idea that Chimaev deserves an immediate rematch.
Strickland dethroned Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 earlier this month. Media scores were nearly evenly divided, but Du Plessis told Fight Forecast he saw it differently.
“Crazy thing is where people go, ‘Oh, it was a robbery.’ I can’t believe it was a split decision. It was a very clear three rounds for Strickland, two rounds for Khamzat. That was it, and it was a great fight. I think Strickland did what most people thought he couldn’t do, but I just had the feeling being in there with both of these guys, both of them are phenomenal at what they do. I just think that Strickland was better being able to be all around than Khamzat in that fight.”
On the question of a Chimaev rematch, Du Plessis was firm.
“I don’t think he deserves a rematch. He definitely doesn’t because he has no title defenses, zero. So, it doesn’t justify a rematch at all, but it’s going to be interesting to see what he does next.”
Du Plessis also offered a broader take on what Chimaev’s first career loss means for him going forward.
“People don’t necessarily enjoy that fighting style, but he’s so dominant, he has been. This fight is going to go one of two ways for him. Is this going to break him or is this going to motivate him to say, ‘Listen, I can’t just rely on my wrestling, I need to fight MMA,’ because that is at the end of the day where this sport is heading. The wrestling guys have been so dominant that everybody’s starting to catch up.”
Du Plessis lost his middleweight title to Chimaev and will look to re-enter the title picture in his next fight.