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Tag: Dricus Du Plessis

  • Dricus du Plessis appears to be in great shape ahead of UFC 319

    Dricus du Plessis appears to be in great shape ahead of UFC 319

    UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis appears to be fantastic shape as we get closer and closer to next month’s UFC 319 event.

    In just a matter of weeks, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev in the main event of UFC 319. The two have been going back and forth at one another for quite some time now, and ‘Borz’ has been eagerly awaiting his moment to finally try and claim the gold.

    Despite that, Dricus du Plessis doesn’t seem particularly bothered about the scale of the task that sits in front of him. Given that he’s already beaten the likes of Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, both via finish, that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

    Ahead of the bout, Dricus du Plessis has shown off his physique – and part of his training – giving us a glimpse into his regime.

    Dricus du Plessis looks to be in great shape

    As you can see, the man known as DDP appears to be in the shape of his life as we sit just weeks away from UFC 319. There’s a lot on the line for the South African champion and although he’s had a lot of fun trolling Khamzat Chimaev, he knows the stakes involved here.

    If he loses, he’ll have to scratch and claw (probably) in order to earn another shot at the title. If he wins, though, he’ll start being talked about as one of the greatest middleweight champions of all time. Either way, you just know that he’s going to bring everything he’s got to the cage.

  • Fellow Middleweight Claims Khamzat Chimaev Will Retire If He Wins Middleweight Title At UFC 319

    Fellow Middleweight Claims Khamzat Chimaev Will Retire If He Wins Middleweight Title At UFC 319

    The UFC has just dealt with one champion retiring when Jon Jones seemed to hang up the gloves a few weeks ago (only to seemingly unretire in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump teasing a UFC card at the White House). But could the UFC lose a second champion to retirement during the summer?

    If Caio Borralho is to be believed, that might come to fruition at UFC 319 if Khamzat Chimaev defeats Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight championship.

    During a “Nerd Talk” segment in a recent upload to MMA Today, Borralho is in the middle of a discussion about Chimaev’s fight with DDP and how a potential fight between he and Chimaev would go down.

    “I heard somewhere some people saying that if he wins the belt, he’s going to retire,” Borralho said. “I believe it.”

    Caio Borralho Feels He Can Beat Khamzat Chimaev — As Long As Chimaev Doesn’t Retire

    Borralho did not precisely name who he heard the rumor from or where it originated; only that he’s heard “little talks” and “whispers.”

    Borralho then followed up by saying he wasn’t sure if he believed it would happen, but he hopes that Chimaev doesn’t and he ends up facing the Emirati fighter one day — potentially for the belt.

    “I think we can do a phenomenal fight,” Borralho said. “I know that I have the tools and the way to beat him. Fighting is nowadays not about being brutal only. I win all my fights with my brain, with tactics, with strategy and all that. That’s why it’s so hard to fight me because I can adapt so easy in the fight, you know?

    “And I think everybody knows that. That’s why everybody was ducking me.”

    This would not be the first time Chimaev announces retirement from the Octagon. After his impressive series of bouts in 2020 — the year of his UFC debut — against John Phillips, Rhys McKee, and Gerald Meerschaert, and his quick rise up the ranks, Chimaev appeared to announce retirement in March 2021 after complications in recovery from COVID-19.

    Chimaev would end up returning to the cage at UFC 267 that October, submitting Li Jingliang.

  • Can Anyone Survive Khamzat Chimaev’s Opening Onslaught? Undefeated UFC Star Talks UFC 319

    Can Anyone Survive Khamzat Chimaev’s Opening Onslaught? Undefeated UFC Star Talks UFC 319

    In about a month’s time, the UFC will arrive in Chicago with a middleweight championship main event for UFC 319 that features Dricus Du Plessis defending the title against Khamzat Chimaev.

    Both men in their own right have been seemingly unbeatable, as both men will enter unbeaten in their UFC tenures — and just two losses (both Du Plessis’) in the 39 fights combined between their two professional MMA careers.

    Chimaev being so dominant in most of his performances, combined with the hype around him and his fighting style, have led plenty to feel he will leave Chicago with the belt strapped around his waist. Others, however, feel Du Plessis’ own, more awkward fighting style will land him yet another surprise victory in the cage.

    When breaking down a comparison between the two’s fighting styles, another unbeaten UFC fighter, Mansur Abdul-Malik, feels Chimaev’s will get the better of DDP.

    “Khamzat comes in that first round guns blazing,” Abdul-Malik told James Lynch recently. “He does a similar thing every single fight, but that thing has not failed. So, you really can’t bet against that.”

    Mansur Abdul-Malik Predicts Khamzat Chimaev Will Defeat Dricus Du Plessis For UFC Middleweight Title At UFC 319

    If there are two things Chimaev is known for in the Octagon, it is his dominant, freestyle-based wrestling and is “smashing” ground-and-pound that he’ll use on his opponents to try and finish the fight after securing the takedown. Sometimes those takedowns will also be set up through the usage of his boxing.

    That fight style has led Chimaev not only to an undefeated UFC tenure, but also an unbeaten record in the sport, and some feel Du Plessis may struggle with that kind of pressure.

    Abdul-Malik added that he feels Chimaev also is strong in terms of the mental aspects of the game, noting a specific example with his decision win in a highly entertaining bout with former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns.

    “[Chimaev is] tough in his own right,” Abdul-Malik said. “Look at the Gilbert Burns example. Look at his mentality. Look at the way he competes. Look at the fire that he comes with. That’s not someone that’s going to give up.”

    Despite repeated one-year layoffs the last couple of years, and time off to deal with illnesses during his Octagon tenure, Chimaev has had plenty of hype around him, with early expectations of him becoming a UFC champion — something that could become a reality in about a month at UFC 319.

    Chimaev earned his title shot off a dominant performance against former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker. It should be noted that Whittaker’s only other losses at 185 in the Octagon — Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis — have each tasted middleweight gold.

    Du Plessis won the middleweight title by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and retained the gold against Adesanya at UFC 305 and Strickland at UFC 312.

  • Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev: UFC icon hints at upset win

    Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev: UFC icon hints at upset win

    UFC legend Stephen Thompson has explained why he believes Dricus du Plessis has a great chance of defeating Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, despite many believing he can’t get the job done.

    For the longest time now, fight fans have been doubting Dricus du Plessis – and every single time, at least since he arrived in the UFC, they’ve been made to pay for it. He is one of the most unconventional fighters out there but he’s also turning into one of the most exciting champions on the roster, especially after successfully defending his belt twice.

    Now, though, Dricus du Plessis faces an entirely new kind of challenge in the form of Khamzat Chimaev. This was always going to be a tough test for him no matter how you try and spin it, and while we know what the South African is capable of, we also know that Chimaev has the ability to finish anyone in the blink of an eye.

    In a recent interview, the aforementioned Stephen Thompson gave an interesting analysis of the upcoming Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev showdown.

    Stephen Thompson backs Dricus du Plessis to defeat Khamzat Chimaev

    “Oh man, I think it’s a tough one for Khamzat. Du Plessis, his awkwardness makes him very difficult to deal with. He’s got great grappling. He’s a very strong opponent. If he can weather the storm in a five-round fight, I’m leaning towards Du Plessis.”

    Get ready, fight fans, because this one has the potential to be truly chaotic.

  • Robert Whittaker Warns Khamzat Chimaev Could Be In Danger Against Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 319

    Robert Whittaker Warns Khamzat Chimaev Could Be In Danger Against Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 319

    Robert Whittaker doubts that Khamzat Chimaev has what it takes to endure a potentially grueling clash with Dricus Du Plessis.

    Chimaev is gearing up to take on reigning middleweight champion Du Plessis in the highly anticipated main event of UFC 319, set for August 16 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

    “Borz” enters the title fight riding an undefeated wave of dominance, fueled by high expectations to claim the 185-pound crown. However, Whittaker, having shared the Octagon with both Chimaev and Du Plessis, isn’t buying into the narrative so easily.

    Robert Whittaker Predicts Trouble For Khamzat Chimaev If He Fails To Ground Dricus Du Plessis

    With just over a month to go before his first title shot, Khamzat Chimaev is already being listed as the betting favorite for his UFC 319 showdown against Dricus Du Plessis. But not everyone, including Robert Whittaker, agrees with the oddsmakers.

    In a recent interview with FOX Sports Australia, “The Reaper” argued that it’s Du Plessis, not Chimaev, who deserves to be favored. Whittaker pointed to Chimaev’s patterm of fading in longer fights, referencing his decision wins over Gilbert Burns and Kamaru Usman. He questioned whether “Borz” can hold up if his grappling fails against Du Plessis and the fight extends beyond three rounds, especially against such an unpredictable opponent.

    “Honestly, I have to say Dricus would be a favorite,” Whittaker said. “I think I’m leaning towards Dricus. The whole thing can be summed up – Chimaev will take him down. It’s will he finish him before he gets back up? That’s the million-dollar question because if he doesn’t finish him on the ground, I think he loses.”

    Khamzat Chimaev last competed at UFC 308 in October, where he secured a dominant first-round submission victory over Whittaker. “Borz” boasts an undefeated 8-0 record inside the Octagon, with six of those wins coming by way of finish.

    Image: @khamzat_chimaev/Instagram

  • Breaking: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Set for UFC 319 Middleweight Title Showdown in Chicago

    Breaking: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev Set for UFC 319 Middleweight Title Showdown in Chicago

    UFC President Dana White announced live on Instagram that Dricus Du Plessis will defend his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. The event is scheduled for August 16 at the United Center in Chicago.

    Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev

    South Africa’s Dricus Du Plessis, the reigning champion, has maintained an undefeated record in the UFC and recently defended his title against top contenders, including Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. Chimaev, also undefeated in his professional career, has quickly risen through the ranks with victories over former champions and is regarded as a formidable challenger.

    Du Plessis began training in judo at age five, wrestling at 12, and kickboxing at 14. He is known for his well-rounded skill set, holding a second-degree black belt in kickboxing and a background in judo and wrestling. Du Plessis has a professional MMA record of 24 wins and 2 losses, with 9 victories by knockout and 11 by submission. He made his UFC debut in 2020.

    Khamzat Chimaev is undefeated as a professional, with a 14-0 record, including 6 knockouts and 6 submissions. He began wrestling as a child, won Swedish national championships in freestyle wrestling, and transitioned to MMA in 2018. Chimaev quickly rose to prominence in the UFC with dominant performances, including a record-setting run of three wins in 66 days.

    UFC 319

    This middleweight title fight will headline UFC 319, marking one of the most anticipated matchups of the year. Both fighters bring significant win streaks and contrasting styles, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest in Chicago.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Denies Injury Rumors, Teases UFC Fight Announcement ‘Soon’

    Dricus Du Plessis Denies Injury Rumors, Teases UFC Fight Announcement ‘Soon’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis has addressed recent speculation regarding the status of his next title defense.

    The undefeated Khamzat Chimaev looked to have secured a first title shot in MMA’s leading promotion this summer after he breezed past former champ Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi last October.

    But though reports placed his clash with Du Plessis on the UFC 317 card during International Fight Week in late June, Kevin Iole recently claimed that an injury to “Stillknocks” is set to delay his third defense.

    “Borz” was quick to corroborate the news with a frustrated post on social media, but Du Plessis has now denied the speculation.

    The South African titleholder hit back at recent rumors in an Instagram post, insisting that no June fight was ever signed and that an announcement regarding his return date is on the way.

    “Okey so everyone had their opinions and rumours and stories about a shin break and injuries etc.,” Du Plessis wrote. “I found it all very entertaining, unfortunately none of it is true myself and @ufc already discussed a fight date and opponent, the June fight was never signed I did not pull out of any fight, I am the champion I know when I fight you as a contender just show up when we tell you to. Fight announcement coming soon stay tuned. 🇿🇦 #preparetobeamazed #stillknocks👑“

    For now, talk of the International Fight Week main event has turned to Ilia Topuria, who is expected to challenge for lightweight gold in the UFC 317 main event.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Khamzat Chimaev’s Frustration Over Reported Title Fight Delay

    Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Khamzat Chimaev’s Frustration Over Reported Title Fight Delay

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis has responded after coming under fire from his expected next challenger.

    While Du Plessis was seemingly being lined up for a return this summer to put his gold on the line against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, a recent report appeared to reveal an injury to the South African.

    With that, “Borz” looks like he’ll have to wait a little longer for his first shot at title glory on MMA’s biggest stage. And it’s safe to say that the Chechen star didn’t take the news well.

    A frustrated Chimaev took to X with his reaction, writing, “This guy biggest bullsh*t.”

    Responding to that, Du Plessis looked to flip the tables by showing Chimaev’s history of fight cancellations in the UFC.

    “Let’s take a look at the last +-2.5years and tell me who’s bullshit,” Du Plessis wrote on X.

    It remains to be seen what the UFC has planned for Chimaev amid talk of an injury to the reigning champion.

    Should the promotion pursue a new matchup for “Borz,” a ready and willing opponent has already emerged in the form of Caio Borralho.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Apparently Says ‘Yes’ To New Opponent After News Of Dricus Du Plessis Injury

    It hasn’t taken long for UFC middleweight Khamzat Chimaev to seemingly agree to a new matchup amid talk of an apparent injury to champion Dricus Du Plessis.

    The undefeated Chechen contender looked set for his first title opportunity on MMA’s biggest stage this summer after he breezed past the great Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi last October.

    But while reports placed his clash with Du Plessis on the UFC 317 card during International Fight Week in late June, Kevin Iole revealed that an injury to the South African is set to delay his third defense.

    “Borz” was quick to corroborate the news with a frustrated post on social media, and he doesn’t appear keen to wait for the champ’s recovery before returning to the cage.

    Fellow top contender Caio Borralho reacted to the news by expressing interest in facing Chimaev instead. By the sound of things, that interest is not one-sided…

    “Khamzat said yes!” Borralho wrote on X. “The only thing that makes sense is the Interim belt! This fight is gonna be bigger than him vs Dricus! Marks my words”

    It remains to be seen whether such a bout would also be of interest to the UFC higher-ups.

  • Khamzat Chimaev Fuels Talk Of Dricus Du Plessis Injury With Frustrated Social Media Post

    Khamzat Chimaev Fuels Talk Of Dricus Du Plessis Injury With Frustrated Social Media Post

    It would seem that middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev will be waiting a little longer than planned for his first UFC title shot.

    Having successfully defended his belt against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, the reign of Dricus Du Plessis was expected to meet its tallest hurdle to date this summer.

    “Stillknocks” appeared likely to face the challenge of Chimaev, an undefeated phenom who most recently steamrolled Robert Whittaker by way of a teeth-breaking face crank submission last October.

    But though their bout was targeted for International Fight Week, a recent report from Kevin Iole has suggested that an injury to the champ has forced him out.

    And Chimaev further corroborated that news Sunday with a frustrated post on social media.

    “This guy biggest bullsh*t,” Chimaev wrote on X.

    The apparent injury to the middleweight kinkpin seems to have boosted the chances of Islam Makhachev headlining UFC 317 in defense of his lightweight crown.

  • Shara Magomedov Told To Avoid Verbal Exchanges With ‘Brutal’ Trash-Talker Dricus Du Plessis 

    Shara Magomedov Told To Avoid Verbal Exchanges With ‘Brutal’ Trash-Talker Dricus Du Plessis 

    UFC middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov has been warned against verbally sparring with his division’s champion, Dricus Du Plessis.

    Magomedov recently had his charge up the 185-pound ladder stalled by Michael “Venom” Page, but that hasn’t stopped him from sharing some firm words on Du Plessis’ status as kingpin.

    “Bullet” recently expressed bemusement at the South African’s ability to become champ, outlining his desire to see Khamzat Chimaev unseat him soon.

    It didn’t take long for Du Plessis to take notice of the remarks. “Stillknocks” fired back with multiple jabs at Magomedov’s compromised vision.

    “Somebody get my guy some eye drop,” one of the South African’s posts read.

    During a recent episode of his Weighing In podcast alongside Josh Thomson, “Big” John McCarthy advised Magomedov against responding, stating that a war of words with Du Plessis won’t go well for the Dagestani.

    “I’m gonna say this, DDP lives in a place where there’s all kinds of things going on there and don’t get into a verbal confrontation with him. [Du Plessis’ trash-talking game], it’s f**king next level, exactly,” McCarthy said. “He is on point, he is brutal, he will freaking pull sh*t out of the f**king thin air and just absolutely hammer you.”

  • Darren Till Says Khamzat Chimaev Will ‘Run Over’ Dricus Du Plessis

    One fighter familiar with both Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev expects the former to lose his grip on the UFC middleweight title should their expected fight come to fruition this year.

    Having successfully defended his belt against Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, the reign of Du Plessis could meet its tallest hurdle to date next time out.

    “Stillknocks” appears likely to face the challenge of Chimaev, an undefeated phenom who most recently steamrolled Robert Whittaker by way of a teeth-breaking face crank submission last October.

    And by the sounds of things, an ex-opponent of the champ’s and occasional training partner of Chimaev’s expects “Borz” to repeat that dominance in his first title fight on MMA’s biggest stage.

    During an interview with Genting Casino, Darren Till gave a one-sided prediction for Du Plessis’ potential clash with the Chechen contender.

    “I think Chimaev is gonna run over him. I think he’ll just completely run over. That’s what I think,” Till said. “I think he’ll win the title. I think he’s done what he’s done to do that, and I think Chimaev will get out, earn the money, and then I think he’ll live his life happily and peacefully then.”

    The top contender didn’t think too highly of Du Plessis’ second championship defense, which came by way of decision in a rematch versus Strickland in Australia last month.

    While “Borz” looks to unseat the South African from the middleweight throne, Till is focused on ventures away from the UFC after requesting his release months on from a submission setback to Du Plessis in late 2022.

  • Dricus Du Plessis: Magomed Ankalaev Took The ‘Biggest Payday Of My Life’ At UFC 313

    Dricus Du Plessis: Magomed Ankalaev Took The ‘Biggest Payday Of My Life’ At UFC 313

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis watched on as his chances of a showdown with Alex Pereira appeared to slip away earlier this month.

    Talk of a champ vs. champ clash between the pair dwindled when Pereira’s light heavyweight reign came to an abrupt end at the hands of Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 313 main event.

    The Dagestani made good on his promise to mark “Poatan’s” toughest test to date, using his well-rounded arsenal to outpoint the Brazilian fan favorite across five rounds inside T-Mobile Arena.

    Among those watching on was Du Plessis, who has long expressed his plans to eventually move up and challenge for two-division glory. Should that occur anytime soon, the South African will no longer be getting a high-profile money fight with arguably the UFC’s top star.

    During a video uploaded to Jackson O’Doherty’s YouTube channel, Du Plessis can be seen reacting live as the UFC 313 main event unfolded.

    “And he (Pereira) wants to go down to middleweight?” Du Plessis said with a laugh while watching the fight. “Ankalaev fought a good game. Thanks Ankalaev for taking the biggest payday of my life.”

    Pereira, though, has plans to return to the 205-pound throne. The former middleweight and light heavyweight kingpin outlined his intention to seek immediate redemption opposite Ankalaev later this year, and UFC CEO Dana White was quick to green light a rematch.

    Du Plessis, meanwhile, is expected to place his attention on the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev next after already pushing past challenges from Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After Latest Setback At UFC Seattle

    Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After Latest Setback At UFC Seattle

    UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen isn’t getting any sympathy from his division’s champion after a tough night at the office this past Saturday night.

    Allen returned to action on Feb. 22, co-headlining the UFC Fight Night event in Seattle opposite a former adversary in fan favorite Anthony Hernandez.

    While “All In” targeted redemption for a defeat to “Fluffy” under the LFA banner en route to defending his spot in the top 10 at 185 pounds, he was once again unable to get the better of Hernandez, this time on the scorecards.

    The result has marked the latest setback to Allen’s title ambitions after he had his seven-fight winning run snapped by Nassourdine Imavov in Paris last September.

    And the Beaufort native is unsurprisingly disappointed, which showed in his first statement on social media post-fight.

    “Just ain’t the guy I thought I was,” Allen wrote. “Hats off to (Hernandez), love the guy through the s*** this sport brings. Who knows what’s next. Thanks to my team and those who stuck with me.”

    Though he received plenty of supportive messages in the comments section, one longtime verbal sparring partner was ready to add salt to Allen’s wounds.

    Reigning titleholder Dricus Du Plessis appeared with a less than positive remark, mocking the sizable blow to Allen’s championship hopes.

    Du Plessis on Allen

    “I don’t know what’s next either but I can most certainly tell what ain’t next for a very long time.”

    Du Plessis and Allen have long gone back and forth on social media and during interviews, with their feud seemingly dating back to a brief stint training together and a clear contrast in personality.

    Since then, “All In” has repeatedly vowed to reach the South African and prove his criticism of the champ’s fighting style correct. As Du Plessis pointed out, however, such a matchup is now a distant possibility following Allen’s likely exit from the top 10.

  • Dricus Du Plessis On Potential Belal Muhammad Fight: ‘I Step On His Head And It’s Over’

    Dricus Du Plessis On Potential Belal Muhammad Fight: ‘I Step On His Head And It’s Over’

    Dricus Du Plessis has responded to Belal Muhammad’s recent criticism of the middleweight division, dismissing the comments and taking jabs at the UFC welterweight champion.

    Muhammad recently downplayed the strength of the 185-pound weight class, calling it the easiest (aside from Khamzat Chimaev) and citing the UFC 312 main event as evidence.

    In an interview with The Ariel Helwani Show, Du Plessis didn’t hold back in his response.

    “Belal Muhammad, I can’t even remember the way he fights, I don’t know,” Du Plessis said. “Has he ever finished anyone? … I mean, I like how he acts as if he has a choice to ever go up to 185. The UFC will never let him. If he wanted to, he’d have to abandon his belt, give up his belt, vacate, and go up to 185, and there’s no way they give him a direct title shot. There’s no way. The UFC doesn’t even like Belal Muhammad. He hasn’t even defended his belt once. He’s definitely better on Twitter than he is when he fights; let’s just say that.”

    While Du Plessis and Muhammad have dismissed the idea of fighting each other, both are on impressive career runs. Du Plessis defended his middleweight title for the second time, defeating Sean Strickland in a rematch at UFC 312, extending his UFC record to 9-0. Meanwhile, Muhammad boasts an 11-fight unbeaten streak since 2019, culminating in a dominant title-winning performance against Leon Edwards at UFC 304 this past July.

    While a champion-vs-champion bout would undoubtedly be a significant draw, Du Plessis believes such a matchup would be one-sided.

    “No, that would be unfair,” Du Plessis said. “If I fight Belal Muhammad, it would be unfair. One hundred percent. Have you seen the size of the man? What is he going to do? Is he going to get somebody to help him? Is he going to sit on somebody’s neck? How is it going to work? I couldn’t believe that he fights at 170 when I saw him.”

    When asked how the fight would go, Du Plessis didn’t mince words.

    “I step on his head, and it’s over,” he said.

    Belal Muhammad Responds to Dricus Du Plessis

    Du Plessis’ comments quickly spread across social media, prompting a response from Muhammad.

    “He can barely walk without tripping over his own feet,” Muhammad said. “He ain’t touching me.”

    While there’s no real movement toward a potential fight between the two champions, their back and forth has added an extra layer of intrigue to their respective title reigns.

  • Fans Amused By A ‘Smashed’ Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 312 Victory

    Fans Amused By A ‘Smashed’ Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 312 Victory

    UFC star Dricus Du Plessis has gained popularity for not just his unorthodox fighting style in the Octagon, but also for his ability to chug beers at a surprisingly fast rate.

    Athletes aren’t generally known for their drinking prowess, but the South African frequently beats influencers and his friends in competitions that revolve around gulping cans or glasses of beers.

    At UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, “Stillknocks” defended his UFC middleweight title for the second time against Sean Strickland. The champion looked way more dominant this time around, even breaking the challenger’s nose in the fourth.

    Despite being undefeated in the UFC, Du Plessis suffered a cheeky loss against Jackson O’Doherty when he stepped into a beer chugging competition with the influencer.

    O’Doherty announced that he’s already 0-3 against the UFC middleweight kingpin, but the fourth time around, he was clever enough to empty the entire glass under his shirt. Du Plessis, who still very impressively chugged his glass in a couple of seconds, seemed too buzzed to care about the result.

    The creator announced ahead of his fourth try at beating the UFC champ:

    “Alright, guys, I’m currently 0 and 3 against the champion in the beer race, and today that changes.”

    Considering that “Stillknocks” is just coming off another five-round hard-fought battle against Strickland, most fans were amused to see him celebrating his second title defense.

    The loss in the chugging contest barely impacted Du Plessis who seemed to be having a time of his life drinking beer and puffing a cigar. He simply said this to acknowledge O’ Doherty’s feat, which, to be fair, would’ve been very rare if genuine:

    “He finally got it done.”

    Time and again, Du Plessis has highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between training and having light moments like the one described above. As someone who cuts around 40 lbs. ahead of his fights at middleweight, he undoubtedly deserves to treat himself after a tiring bout.

    Fans from around the world could easily make out that Du Plessis was not having his fourth beer with O’ Doherty, and because of his usual comfort with alcohol, he must’ve had quite a few drinks to be evidently drunk.

    If you’re unaware of how quickly DDP can empty a glass of beer, this footage of him celebrating his iconic win over Israel Adesanya should definitely give you the idea:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iIfXnI_y6o

    For now, the UFC middleweight champion could make the most of every bit of rest and enjoyment as he’s most likely to return against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev, one of the most hyped and explosive fighters in the UFC. Based on his callout, a superfight against Alex Pereira could be possible too.

  • Belal Muhammad Breaks Down How Dricus Du Plessis Fight Would Play Out: ‘Then I Put Him To Sleep…’

    Belal Muhammad Breaks Down How Dricus Du Plessis Fight Would Play Out: ‘Then I Put Him To Sleep…’

    UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad continues to step up talk of a push for two-division title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Muhammad was quick to raise the topic of adding middleweight gold to his collection in the aftermath of the latest 185-pound title fight — a lopsided decision victory for Dricus Du Plessis over challenger Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 312.

    While the South African followed up his submission of Israel Adesanya with a dominant display this past weekend in Sydney, “Remember the Name” evidently wasn’t too impressed, claiming that his crowning up a weight class would be comfortable.

    And the 170-pound kingpin reiterated that sentiment on X recently by breaking down exactly how he’d defeat Du Plessis inside the Octagon. Should all go to plan for Muhammad, the bout would end with “Stillknocks” rendered unconscious.

    “I’d come out him with a 1-2 then he’d wing an overhand I’ll duck it change levels and take him down then he’d shrimp and get the underhook to get out but he’ll be to weak to get up so then I’ll hit him with ground and pound for the rest of round 1. Round 2 starts and I come out with a flying knee he shells up then I hit him with the zabit back trip then point and laugh at him (this makes him mad) he gets up and charges foward winging punches at me I slide out of the way with ease then hit him with a 1-2 then he gets frustrated shoots for a takedown I defend with ease but now he’s tired and stays on his knees I kick him to the body while he’s on the ground. End of round 2. .. round 3 starts and he’s distraught he can’t hit me he can’t take me down so then he tries spinning stuff I back up at the right time and end up taking his back he lets me under chin out of frustration then I put him to sleep … and new double champ”

    Before having the chance to bring such a scenario to fruition, Muhammad has work to do in his current division.

    “Remember the Name” is yet to defend the belt since wrestling it away from Leon Edwards in Manchester last July. That’s courtesy of a bone infection that canceled his planned showdown with undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov two months ago.

    While Muhammad likely prepares for a second shot at stalling “Nomad’s” championship aspirations, Du Plessis is also expected to face an undefeated challenger next in the form of Khamzat Chimaev.

  • Daniel Cormier Downplays Dricus Du Plessis’ Champ-Champ Talk: ‘He Still Has Work At Middleweight’

    Daniel Cormier Downplays Dricus Du Plessis’ Champ-Champ Talk: ‘He Still Has Work At Middleweight’

    Daniel Cormier was cageside as Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title for the second time, earning a dominant unanimous decision victory over Sean Strickland in their rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney.

    Following the fight, Du Plessis shifted his focus to light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who was in Strickland’s corner. While he expressed interest in a future showdown with “Poatan,” he made it clear that his immediate priority is Khamzat Chimaev.

    And Cormier supports that, believing the South African has more work to do at 185 pounds.

    “Dricus Du Plessis is the man,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “In the Octagon, he called out Pereira. I told Pereira after the fight, I go, ‘He wants you, Pereira.’ Pereira goes, ‘He’s just too small.’ Seriously. Pereira goes, ‘This man is just too small.’ Alex is huge, though. I mean, he looked massive compared to Dricus.

    “I love that Dricus has these big goals. I just think he still has work at middleweight before he thinks about going up — Khamzat Chimaev being problem No. 1.”

    Cormier admitted that he was once skeptical of Du Plessis, but after UFC 312, he has no doubts about the South African’s legitimacy.

    “Watching Dricus today, I don’t know that Chimaev just drives across the mat and takes him down,” Cormier said. “He’s so good at what he does. He’s the man. Dricus Du Plessis is the man, and once again, he proved that it’s going to be very difficult to take the belt off him.

    “I know Chimaev has a massive following, and people like him. He’s been dominant, but I just don’t know that he has ever seen anyone like Du Plessis.”

    Cormier concluded by acknowledging Du Plessis’ ability to dictate fights on his own terms.

    “I’m done questioning him,” Cormier said. “I’m done ever saying that what he does isn’t what’s done by the best fighter in the world, because he is proving over and over again that he is just that.

    “The way Du Plessis fights makes you fight him the way that he wants to fight. He makes you stop, he makes you wait, because when you try to attack him, he’s so good at changing speed, changing direction, and hitting you from odd angles that you can’t really get a bead on him.”

  • Kamaru Usman Names Fight He ‘Doesn’t Like’ For Dricus Du Plessis, And It’s Not Khamzat Chimaev

    Kamaru Usman Names Fight He ‘Doesn’t Like’ For Dricus Du Plessis, And It’s Not Khamzat Chimaev

    Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman envisions one particular contender posing a real threat to the reign of middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis.

    Du Plessis extended his rule over the 185-pound division beyond its second defense this past weekend when he headlined the UFC 312 pay-per-view alongside challenger Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia.

    13 months on from his crowning at the polarizing American’s defense, the South African recorded a much more definitive victory over Strickland second time around, smashing his nose en route to a lopsided decision.

    Moving forward, “Stillknocks” is widely expected to face a test from Khamzat Chimaev next. Usman, however, sees a different top contender being a problem for Du Plessis down the line.

    During a recent episode of his Pound 4 Pound podcast alongside fellow former UFC champion Henry Cejudo, “The Nigerian Nightmare” highlighted the talents of Nassourdine Imavov.

    “A guy like Nassourdine Imavov, the way that he (Du Plessis) fought Sean Strickland last night, I don’t like that fight for DDP,” Usman said. “I don’t like it really.

    “We saw how the standup was with Israel. When you primarily just stand up with Imavov, man, he might be the sharper guy besides Israel Adesanya right now with the striking in that division. Sharp hands,” Usman continued, throwing another name into the mix. “I would have to go also with Brendan Allen’s got really, really good hands.”

    Imavov is fresh off a victory over a former adversary of Du Plessis’, ex-two-time champ Israel Adesanya, whom the Frenchman knocked out in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Matchmakes For Defeated Opponent Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘I Just Thought Of That…’

    Dricus Du Plessis Matchmakes For Defeated Opponent Sean Strickland After UFC 312: ‘I Just Thought Of That…’

    Dricus Du Plessis has a suggestion for Sean Strickland’s next fight following his loss at UFC 312.

    Strickland’s rematch with Du Plessis ended in a decisive unanimous decision defeat. The former champion endured significant damage, including a broken nose, as blood streamed down his face during the main event.

    Now, the question is: what’s next for the polarizing American?

    The answer is clear in the reigning champ’s mind. He believes Strickland should face Israel Adesanya in a rematch.

    “I know what’s going to happen next,” Du Plessis said during his UFC 312 post-fight press conference. “I can almost guarantee you what’s happening next: Is there any bets that he’s fighting Adesanya next? I just thought of that. … I think the Adesanya rematch will be amazing. That’s what’s going to happen. It’s going to be a Fight Night main event. I know it.”

    “The Last Stylebender” is coming off a second-round knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Fight Night Saudi Arabia.

    Strickland’s reign as UFC middleweight champion was brief. He defeated Adesanya at UFC 293 in September 2023 but lost the belt in his first defense against Du Plessis, who later went on to defeat Adesanya as well.

  • Dricus Du Plessis: Khamzat Chimaev ‘Deserves A Hiding’ Before Alex Pereira Fight

    Dricus Du Plessis: Khamzat Chimaev ‘Deserves A Hiding’ Before Alex Pereira Fight

    Dricus Du Plessis successfully defended his middleweight title for the second time with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Sean Strickland in their rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney.

    Following the fight, Du Plessis turned his attention to light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who was in Strickland’s corner. While he expressed interest in a future showdown with “Poatan,” he made it clear that his immediate focus is on Khamzat Chimaev.

    “I have the utmost respect for Alex Pereira,” Du Plessis said. “I think he is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. I respect everything he’s accomplished in such a short time in the UFC — coming from another sport and achieving what he has. But yes, I want to share the octagon with that man. I want to beat a guy — I’ve beaten [Israel] Adesanya, who has beaten him. I know I can beat him, and at 205 [pounds], one hundred percent.”

    The likelihood of a fight with the UFC light heavyweight king happening soon is slim, as Pereira is set to defend his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev next month in the main event of UFC 313.

    For now, Du Plessis is content with a fight against the undefeated Chimaev.

    “Khamzat’s first,” Du Plessis said. “I told [Pereira], ‘Please beat Ankalaev.’ No hate against Ankalaev — I just want to beat Alex Pereira. It’s nothing personal against Ankalaev, it’s just Pereira. He’s already a legend in this sport, and it would be amazing to beat him for my legacy. I want to be the greatest to ever do this. But Khamzat is next. Khamzat is next. I want to make sure that this belt — the middleweight title — has no questions left about who the greatest middleweight is.

    “I know you have Anderson Silva — in my mind, he is the GOAT of this division—and you have Adesanya, who has done incredible things. But it’s not just about how many times you defend. It’s about who you fight, how you defend it, and what period of time you’ve done it in. I want to make sure that there’s no question that I am the best middleweight before moving up. So I’m not rushing to fight Alex Pereira next. No, no, no. I want Khamzat next. I think he deserves a hiding.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis ‘Super Frustrated’ By UFC 312 Boos: ‘If It Was Towards Me, You Are Stupid’

    Dricus Du Plessis ‘Super Frustrated’ By UFC 312 Boos: ‘If It Was Towards Me, You Are Stupid’

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis insists he’s not to blame for how his main event in Australia this past Saturday unfolded.

    Du Plessis ran it back with former titleholder Sean Strickland in the headlining act of UFC 312 inside Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, with the pair renewing hostilities 13 months on from the South African unseating “Tarzan” in Canada.

    After submitting Israel Adesanya in his first defense last August, “Stillknocks” was targeting a statement second time around against Strickland. And he succeeded in recording a much more definitive victory, smashing the polarizing American’s nose en route to a lopsided decision.

    While Du Plessis’ dominant performance drew plaudits, the fight itself failed to impress, with the challenger’s gun-shy approach leading to noticeable boos from the crowd.

    That disappointed the champ, who told Full Send MMA that he never has any intention of putting on a “boring” fight. With that in mind, he hopes the fans were directing their displeasure at Strickland.

    “I don’t put on boring fights. I don’t have the ability because I don’t know how to fight like that. When I heard the boos, in my mind they are 100 percent towards him. And if it was towards me, you are stupid, anyone who booed,” Du Plessis said. “I went forward the whole time. At the stage when I heard the boos, it drove me crazy. I was like, ‘Come on, dude. Fight me!’ The first and second round, I was piecing him up. In that third round, he was kind of just evading.

    “I got super frustrated because people pay a lot of money to be here and I wanna give the fans a show,” Du Plessis continued. “That irritated me. That makes me crazy. I’ll have to rewatch it. If it was boring, I’m really sorry, that’s not my fault. I went forward. I wanted to fight. I know there was times where it wasn’t a war, but it’s not my fault. I went forward and I wanted to fight.”

    Du Plessis is certainly not known for lackluster displays inside the cage, having gone the distance just three times in professional MMA fights and finished the likes of Robert Whittaker and Adesanya.

    Strickland, on the other hand, has been repeatedly criticized for promising wars during fight weeks but failing to deliver fireworks once the cage door closes behind him.

  • Joe Rogan Reacts To Dricus Du Plessis’ UFC 312 Win Over Sean Strickland: ‘He’s A Tough Puzzle’

    Joe Rogan Reacts To Dricus Du Plessis’ UFC 312 Win Over Sean Strickland: ‘He’s A Tough Puzzle’

    While the UFC 312 main event itself didn’t exactly deliver fireworks, color commentator Joe Rogan was extremely impressed by how middleweight kingpin Dricus Du Plessis controlled it.

    Du Plessis returned to the cage for his first assignment of the new year and second defense of the 185-pound title on Saturday night, headlining the pay-per-view in Sydney, Australia opposite a familiar foe in Sean Strickland.

    After narrowly dethroning the polarizing American by way of split decision 13 months ago, the South African champ put a stamp on his superiority over “Tarzan” second time around.

    During his JRE Fight Companion episode for UFC 312, Rogan reacted to Du Plessis’ dominant five-round decision victory over the former titleholder, who was left with a badly broken nose.

    “DDP fought really well, man,” Rogan said. “It was that big right hand that changed everything. … Dricus Du Plessis, ladies and gentlemen. He’s a tough puzzle to figure out. A very tough fight to figure out.

    “He’s a big f***** for 185 pounds too. That’s a big f*****,” Rogan continued. “He did a really good job of setting up, throwing that low kick, switch kick to the body, and kept that pace up for the entire five (rounds). He keeps getting better.”

    While Strickland goes back to the drawing board after being pushed out of the title conversation following two defeats to Du Plessis in his last three fights, “Stillknocks” has a ready list of challengers vying for a shot at his gold.

    It would appear that the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev is immediately next in line, with the rising Nassourdine Imavov chomping at the bit another step down the middleweight ladder.

  • Khamzat Chimaev & Nassourdine Imavov Among Fighters Unimpressed By UFC 312 Main Event

    Khamzat Chimaev & Nassourdine Imavov Among Fighters Unimpressed By UFC 312 Main Event

    Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland ran it back in Saturday’s UFC 312 headliner, and it’s safe to say the rematch didn’t thrill the MMA masses.

    The pair’s second dance went down this weekend in Sydney, Australia, 13 months on from Du Plessis securing a narrow split decision to capture the middleweight crown.

    The South African made good on his promise to show more evolution in the time since the first meeting, dominantly outpointing a gun-shy Strickland across five rounds in the UFC 312 main event at the Qudos Bank Arena.

    As is often the case, “Tarzan” promised fans a war on fight night but failed to deliver, with his approach even garnering boos from the crowd in attendance at some points in the fight.

    And it was far from just the locals in the arena who were bemused by how the fight played out at UFC 312. Among the critics online were a pair of top 185-pound contenders vying to compete for the gold next — Khamzat Chimaev and Nassourdine Imavov.

    Many believed Chimaev was deserving of the first shot at Du Plessis in 2025. While “Tarzan” got the better of Paulo Costa in a lackluster 15-minute contest last June, “Borz” emphatically submitted Robert Whittaker in Abu Dhabi four months later.

    Imavov, meanwhile, staked his claim for a first championship opportunity last weekend in Saudi Arabia, where he knocked out former two-time champ Israel Adesanya.

  • ‘Thought He Was Going To War?’ – Fans React As Sean Strickland Gets Nose Broken In Lopsided Loss To Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 312

    ‘Thought He Was Going To War?’ – Fans React As Sean Strickland Gets Nose Broken In Lopsided Loss To Dricus Du Plessis At UFC 312

    The first fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland was a close battle that could have fallen either way, ending in a controversial decision for the South African despite UFC CEO Dana White feeling “Tarzan” won the fight. But the rematch between the two was not close at all.

    Du Plessis took complete control in a lackluster, dominant decision win over Strickland to retain the UFC middleweight championship in the main event of UFC 312.

    The opening round saw both men delivering single shots. Despite previous acknowledgement about the risks of close rounds, Strickland tried to use his jab for a lead, but the champ kept distance and strategically landed whenever he saw an opening.

    The American landed some strong strikes early in the second round, but “Stillknocks” completely took over the output of that frame from there, seemingly putting the former champion in an early 2-0 hole.

    The defending champion continued to take advantage of a lack of activity from the former one during round three. The big moment of the fight, however, happened in the middle of the fourth round when a right hand from Du Plessis connected harshly, breaking Strickland’s nose. Blood poured out as the challenger looked to up his power to get back into the fight.

    In spite of nearly getting caught in a guillotine during an unadvised rush in, Du Plessis stayed the course and landed from distance, with his output far exceeding Strickland’s.

    The South African nearly swept the scorecards, with two 50-45s and a 49-46 in his favor to keep the gold.

    Dricus Du Plessis Retains In Dominant Outing Over Sean Strickland

    https://twitter.com/MartialMind1/status/1888469449621283168

    Du Plessis won the middleweight title in the original fight with Strickland last year at UFC 297 and retained the gold with a submission of Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

    Strickland, meanwhile, defeated Paulo Costa at UFC 302. He had won the middleweight title in upset fashion when he defeated Adesanya at UFC 293 in September 2023.