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Tag: Dricus Du Plessis

  • UFC Middleweight Doesn’t Give Dricus Du Plessis A Chance Against Alex Pereira: ‘He Can Beat DDP Easily’

    UFC Middleweight Doesn’t Give Dricus Du Plessis A Chance Against Alex Pereira: ‘He Can Beat DDP Easily’

    UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis is set to return at UFC 312 next month where he will put the title on the line for a second time. “Stillknocks” certainly isn’t short on contenders at 185-pounds even when looking past his next challenge, a rematch with Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia.

    However, there is always going to be talk and debate around champions moving up or down a weight class to face another titleholder in the promotion and this is something that has interested Du Plessis in the past. It also just so happens that the current champion in the division above him is the former middleweight king also.

    Many fans expect to see Alex Pereira defend the light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev in his next outing inside the Octagon. The only exception might be that because “Poatan” has become such a star for the promotion, they could look to capitalize on putting together a super fight for the Brazilian.

    Middleweight contender Caio Borralho recently trained alongside Pereira and used that experience to weigh-in on how a potential matchup between him and Du Plessis would play out if they end up meeting at some stage. He told Submission Radio that whilst the debate would change if you factor Khamzat Chimaev into the conversation, he believes that Pereira would be a tough style clash for “DDP”.

    “I think he can beat DDP easily,” Borralho told Submission Radio. “I think very easily he can beat DDP. I think Khamzat (Chimaev) is a different story because of the grappling, but ‘Poatan’ is definitely getting better at defending takedowns. He’s a big guy, very big guy. It would be hard for Khamzat to keep him down.

    “He made a good choice moving up to the light heavyweight division. … I think he can knock DDP out really easily because DDP commits a lot of mistakes in his fights and a lot of openings,” Borralho said. “If you leave even a small opening with a guy like Alex, you’re going to get knocked out.”

  • ‘No One Beats DDP’ – Fans Debate Khamzat Chimaev Being Betting Favorite To End 2025 As UFC MW Champion

    The odds are in for the UFC’s champions in 2025, and the betting line for one particular division has caused a stir…

    As always, titles are expected to change hands on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the new year. DraftKings has the middleweight class as one in which a new kingpin could be crowned.

    Opening odds for who will have UFC gold in their possession in 12 months’ time recently emerged, with the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev being favorite to be occupying the middleweight throne by the end of 2025.

    As it stands, he’d have to unseat Dricus Du Plessis to do so. The South African will enter the year with the crown after a 2024 in which he took it from Sean Strickland and defended it against Israel Adesanya.

    The odds have “Stillknocks” as the second favorite to finish 2025 as champ at +120, being pipped to the post by “Borz’s” -200 line.

    That, in addition to the figures beside names like Caio Borralho, Sean Strickland, Nassourdine Imavov and Adesanya, have split opinion in the MMA community online.

    https://twitter.com/Percy2mac/status/1873492992167969087
    https://twitter.com/ProchazkaSzn/status/1873461084012863629
    https://twitter.com/thebankrolldon/status/1873461440650301518

    The first chance to dent Du Plessis’ chances of another Christmas as king has fallen to Strickland, who is set to face the South African in a rematch next February. The pair will headline UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia 13 months on from their close five-round contest in Canada.

  • Sean Strickland’s Coach Explains Picking Dricus Du Plessis As ‘Toughest Challenge’ Over Khamzat Chimaev

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Explains Picking Dricus Du Plessis As ‘Toughest Challenge’ Over Khamzat Chimaev

    Sean Strickland is set to challenge for the UFC middleweight title for the second time in his upcoming rematch with Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312. The former champion stuck to the idea that he would wait for his shot at “Stillknocks” following his win over Paulo Costa in June and it paid off for him with the fight being announced this past weekend at UFC 310.

    For his head coach at Xtreme Couture, Eric Nicksick, the next few months will be all about looking at what they need to do differently in order to defeat Du Plessis in Sydney, Australia. Their first meeting at UFC 297 came down to a close split decision that saw the South African become the 185-pound champion.

    For several weeks following his submission win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, it looked like the promotion might be heading towards Khamzat Chimaev as the next title challenger for Du Plessis. Though they aren’t thinking about it right now, both teams will know that if they come out on top in February, Chimaev will likely be their next opponent.

    Nicksick spoke in a recent interview with Submission Radio about which opponent is a bigger threat to Strickland out of the current champion and the other top contender in the division. He explained why in his opinion, as of right now, Du Plessis is their biggest challenge.

    “I mean, you would have to say [Dricus du Plessis] because he won, he beat us. Right now you have to say that [he’s the tougher matchup] because that’s the task at hand. I think Khamzat presents tons of different variables to his style that we’re gonna have to look at how to break down once that challenge presents itself. But right now, DDP is the toughest challenge for us.”

  • Teammate Says ‘Different Level’ Khabib Nurmagomedov Could Defeat Dricus Du Plessis At Middleweight

    Teammate Says ‘Different Level’ Khabib Nurmagomedov Could Defeat Dricus Du Plessis At Middleweight

    When Khabib Nurmagomedov announced that he would be retiring from MMA at UFC 254 in 2020, he did what very few athletes are able to do. “The Eagle” left the sport that he had dedicated his life to whilst being at the very top of the game.

    With an undefeated record of 29-0 and three title defenses under his belt, Nurmagomedov stuck to the promise that he had made his mother following the tragic loss of his father and coach, Abdulmanap. Who knows how much longer the champion could’ve stayed at the top but his final performance inside the Octagon against Justin Gaethje proved that he was still the best lightweight in the world by some distance.

    Since then, he has used his unbreakable mentality and elite experience to benefit the fighters around him by acting as a coach. His team recently had success at the 2024 PFL World Championships in Riyadh where Gadzhi Rabadanov brought even more lightweight gold to their trophy cabinet by stopping Brent Primus.

    In an interview with Bloody Elbow, Rabadanov spoke about the former UFC lightweight king and how he continues to be incredibly dedicated even after hanging up the gloves for good.

    “He trains like a professional fighter still, ever single day, he’s never going to stop. If he could he’d train while he’s flying or in the Arabian dessert.”

    Though he is still constantly training alongside his teammates, Nurmagomedov has put on a fair bit of size since stepping away which isn’t necessarily surprising given that lightweight was a difficult weight cut for him at several points in his career. With that in mind, though he doesn’t think Khabib will ever come back, Rabadanov believes that he could be a champion again in whatever weight class he ends up in.

    He believes that 185-pounds would probably be a better fit for “The Eagle” at this point in time but that doesn’t mean that Dricus Du Plessis would be able to stop from him getting his hands on UFC gold again if that’s what he really wanted.

    “He’s not lightweight any more. I think maybe middleweight is good. 100 per cent [he could beat Dricus Du Plessis]. Khabib is different level.”

  • Robert Whittaker: Neither Dricus Du Plessis Nor Sean Strickland Could Stop Khamzat Chimaev’s Grappling

    Robert Whittaker: Neither Dricus Du Plessis Nor Sean Strickland Could Stop Khamzat Chimaev’s Grappling

    Robert Whittaker, a former UFC middleweight champion, is eager to see how Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland would fare if they faced Khamzat Chimaev.

    Strickland is set to challenge reigning titleholder Du Plessis in a rematch that headlines UFC 312 on Feb. 8 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.

    Chimaev, fresh off a dominant first-round submission victory over Whittaker at UFC 308 in October, is likely to face the winner. “Borz’s” last win saw him claim victory via a crushing face crank, leaving Whittaker with significant injuries.

    Reflecting on the potential matchups that lie in his recent opponent’s future, Whittaker expressed doubts about either Du Plessis or Strickland being able to defend against Chimaev’s relentless takedown game.

    “I think he just takes them down and does the same thing — not necessarily to me, but like how he beat (Kamaru) Usman or Gilbert Burns,” Whittaker shared on his MMArcade Podcast. “I can see those sorts of fights. I think he’d have more success with Strickland than Du Plessis because Du Plessis is a big dude. Stopping that first takedown is so crazy. The way he shoots that first shot is crazy. How do you stop that dude? Jump over him?”

    Whittaker also questioned whether Strickland could make the necessary adjustments to avenge his previous loss to the South African, which came via split decision at UFC 297 in Canada this past January.

  • Robert Whittaker Gives Strickland ‘Props’ For Sticking To His Guns, Predicts Du Plessis Rematch

    Robert Whittaker Gives Strickland ‘Props’ For Sticking To His Guns, Predicts Du Plessis Rematch

    Just over a year on from their first meeting, middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis and former titleholder Sean Strickland are set to meet in a rematch at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia. Following his bounce back win over Paulo Costa in June, Strickland has remained confident that he deserved the opportunity to fight for the title again.

    His first encounter with “Stillknocks” at UFC 297 went the way of the South African via a split decision and though the fight was close, there weren’t a ton of people calling for the rematch to take place. This was especially true following Khamzat Chimaev’s recent win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 where Du Plessis said himself that a matchup with the undefeated contender would excite him more than running it back with Strickland.

    In a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker gave his reaction to the fight announcement. The former champion took his hat off to Strickland for sticking to his guns and getting what he asked for even when it looked like it might slip away from him.

    “I’m surprised Sean just literally sat out. Like everyone was laughing at him when he said, ‘I’m going to sit out till I get my title shot.’ Dude straight up got a title shot, props for that. You got to give it him, guy like straight up stuck by what he said.”

    Despite this, Whittaker isn’t sure that Strickland will be able to make the adjustments needed to reclaim the middleweight title.

    “In my opinion, I don’t see the fight going any different. Du Plessis is such a dog in there, he’s going to come with the same aggressiveness and game plan. What could Sean do differently to change the outcome than last time? Okay because if we look at it, it doesn’t happen often but the challenger beats a champion by decision, okay. Du Plessis did that and now he’s a champion and that was a close first fight, you know what I mean. You see where I’m angling with this. I just don’t know what Sean can do differently to change the outcome from happening again.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis On UFC Dismissing His Chimaev Preference For Next Defense: ‘Just For Clarification…’ 

    Dricus Du Plessis On UFC Dismissing His Chimaev Preference For Next Defense: ‘Just For Clarification…’ 

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis insists he is not “unhappy” about the promotion’s decision regarding his next challenger.

    During this past weekend’s pay-per-view broadcast, it was announced that Du Plessis will return to Australia — the site of his successful first defense against Israel Adesanya in August — to headline UFC 312 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.

    Against him will be former champ Sean Strickland, who staked his claim for a chance at redemption opposite the man who dethroned him this past January when he outpointed Paulo Costa in a lackluster affair four months later. But while his shot has ultimately come to fruition, there was some doubt prior to the recent reveal.

    The undefeated Khamzat Chimaev ran through Robert Whittaker in quick time at UFC 308 in October, garnering support for his claim to the next opportunity at Du Plessis’ belt. Even the champ himself made it clear that he favored a first-time clash with “Borz.”

    But although that evidently fell on deaf ears, the South African says he’s more than happy to beat whomever the UFC places in front of him.

    “Just for clarification, I preferred the Khamzat fight but the rematch is a fight most wanted before Khamzat vs (Whittaker),” Du Plessis wrote on X. “I’m not unhappy with the UFC’s decision. Like I said, I’ll fight the man fans think is the next best guy he was promised the fight so Strickland it is.”

    He did, however, reiterate his belief that Strickland is not truly deserving of the shot at UFC 312 in response to a commenter.

    “I have to agree with you on that one”

    After falling on the right side of a split decision to capture the crown at Strickland’s expense in Canada, “Stillknocks” continued to prove his doubters wrong by submitting former two-time champ Adesanya at UFC 305.

    Du Plessis will now look to secure a more definitive victory over Strickland to extend his lead in their rivalry to 2-0, before likely turning attention to Chimaev later in the year.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Confirmation Of Sean Strickland Rematch: ‘They’ll Call It Attempted Murder…’ 

    Dricus Du Plessis Reacts To Confirmation Of Sean Strickland Rematch: ‘They’ll Call It Attempted Murder…’ 

    UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis is looking to put a stamp on his rivalry with Sean Strickland when they run it back early next year.

    As 2024 approaches its conclusion, Du Plessis already has his first assignment of the new year in the calendar. After being crowned 185-pound kingpin this past January and subsequently defending that status against Israel Adesanya in Australia seven months later, “Stillknocks” will return Down Under.

    The promotion confirmed during this past weekend’s pay-per-view broadcast that Du Plessis will headline February’s UFC 312 event in Sydney, running it back with the man at the expense of whom he won the middleweight belt, the #1-ranked Strickland.

    Reacting to that announcement on social media this week, the South African vowed to record a more definitive triumph over the polarizing American former champ.

    “This time they won’t call it a robbery, they’ll call it attempted murder. #UFC312 #preparetobeamazed”

    The pair first met in Strickland’s sole title defense in Canada, with the then-challenger falling on the right side of a split decision verdict following five rounds of close and competitive action.

    While “Tarzan’s” only bout since then saw him emerge victorious from a lackluster contest with Paulo Costa, he’s gotten the nod for a shot at redemption opposite Du Plessis over Khamzat Chimaev, whose own claim to an opportunity gained support after he ran through Robert Whittaker in October.

    Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 will top a lineup that features two title fights, the other being a highly anticipated strawweight championship contest between Zhang Weili and the undefeated Tatiana Suarez.

  • Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2, Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney

    Dricus Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2, Zhang Weili vs. Tatiana Suarez Announced For UFC 312 In Sydney

    MMA’s leading promotion is set for an electric start to the new year, with a blockbuster lineup for Los Angeles in January being followed by two more championship fights at UFC 312 in Australia.

    After opening its pay-per-view account for 2025 with Islam Makhachev vs. Arman Tsarukyan 2 and Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov at LA’s Intuit Dome, the UFC will be back in Sydney for its latest show at the Qudos Bank Arena.

    And returning to the site where he was shockingly crowned middleweight champion in 2023 will be Sean Strickland (29-6). Despite Khamzat Chimaev gaining support for his claim to a title shot, “Tarzan” will indeed get his chance for redemption at UFC 312 opposite the man who dethroned him this past January, Dricus Du Plessis (22-2).

    That news was announced by the broadcast team during Saturday’s UFC 310 PPV, alongside news of the Feb. 8 co-headliner between strawweight queen Zhang Weili (25-3) and undefeated contender Tatiana Suarez (10-0).

    Du Plessis has recorded one title defense since dethroning Strickland, submitting former two-time champ Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in Perth this past August. The American challenger, meanwhile, successfully staked his claim for a rematch opposite the South African by outpointing Paulo Costa in a lackluster five-round affair in Newark.

    For Zhang, UFC 312 will mark her second challenge since returning to the throne at the expense of Carla Esparza in late 2023. She most recently defeated fellow Chinese standout Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 this past April. In Suarez, “Magnum” faces a highly regarded wrestler who has long been touted for success on MMA’s biggest stage. She’ll look to ensure her injuries are a thing of the past and open a new era at 115 pounds.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 312 in Sydney on Feb. 8 are as follows:

    • Dricus Du Plessis (C) vs. Sean Strickland (middleweight championship)
    • Zhang Weili (C) vs. Tatiana Suarez (women’s strawweight championship)
    • Jimmy Crute vs. Marcin Prachnio (light heavyweight)
    • Rei Tsuruya vs. Stewart Nicoll (flyweight)
    • Quillan Salkilld vs. Anshul Jubli (lightweight)
  • Khamzat Chimaev Uses Donald Trump To Aim Cryptic Post At Dricus Du Plessis

    Khamzat Chimaev Uses Donald Trump To Aim Cryptic Post At Dricus Du Plessis

    It looked for a long time like Dricus Du Plessis’ next middleweight title defense would see him face Sean Strickland in a rematch but that was until Khamzat Chimaev changed the narrative. Du Plessis won the middleweight title at UFC 297 in January by beating Strickland via a split decision and after the former champ rebounded with a win, this was the clear direction to go in.

    The only other potential candidate at the time was another former champion in Robert Whittaker but when he was booked to face Chimaev at UFC 308, all the title plans needed to be put on hold until that fight played out. What we ended up getting was a statement win from the undefeated Chimaev who became just the second man to submit “The Reaper” in 34 pro fights.

    As a result, Chimaev challenging Du Plessis for the belt is now the most exciting fight in the division but one barrier to it happening could be the issues that “Borz” has faced in regards to staying active. His recent social media post appears to address that and remove it from the conversation.

    Chimaev has not fought in the United States since UFC 279 in 2022 with his wins over Whittaker and Kamaru Usman both taking place in Abu Dhabi. He previously told Kevin Iole that if Donald Trump was re-elected as President, fighting in the United States wouldn’t be an issue for him.

    “Let Donald Trump win the fight and I will be there.”

    Posting on X, Chimaev tagged the 185-pound champion with nothing more than an image and eye emoji attached to get across his point that there is nothing that can get in the way of him being the next challenger. It now looks likely that we will see this huge fight take place at middleweight with it potentially being held in the United States.

  • Israel Adesanya Reflects On Settling The Feud With Dricus Du Plessis

    Israel Adesanya Reflects On Settling The Feud With Dricus Du Plessis

    We’ve seen it happen time and time again where the tension that exists pre-fight between two competitors is put to bed once they meet inside the Octagon. This was certainly the case in the main event of UFC 305 in August where Israel Adesanya returned to challenge Dricus Du Plessis for the middleweight title.

    The feud dated back over a year and reached boiling point following Du Plessis’ win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 where in his post-fight interview, he was joined in the cage by Adesanya for a heated exchange. Unfortunately, “Stillknocks” wasn’t able to make the quick turn around to fight the champion at UFC 293 but with Adesanya losing the title only for Du Plessis to win it from Sean Strickland at UFC 297, the match-up came back around.

    After Du Plessis submitted “The Last Stylebender” in the fourth round to defend the title in Perth, they shared a brief but respectful exchange in the immediate aftermath. Footage later came out on social media of one final meeting between them backstage where they pleasantly parted ways.

    In a recent appearance on Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant podcast, Adesanya spoke about putting the rivalry with Du Plessis to bed.

    “Yeah we’re cool. After the fight, we had a nice discussion, yeah it was cool. Just like a moment and then at the end he said, ‘If you’re ever in South Africa, you know, tap in’ and I was like ‘yeah sure’ and I said when I see you again, I’ll try and kill you and he goes ‘I’ll try and kill you too’ and we just hugged.”

    He said that despite the animosity that previously existed between them, it’s normal for fighters to shake hands and put the past behind them after competing against one another.

    “That’s how most fighters are, there’s only some who take it to that place and then like keep it like that after the fight but nah, we’re all on the same journey and again, he’s achieved his dream now.”  

  • Israel Adesanya Details Lapse In Concentration That Cost Him At UFC 305

    Israel Adesanya Details Lapse In Concentration That Cost Him At UFC 305

    In his return to the Octagon at UFC 305, there were a lot of positives to take from Israel Adesanya’s middleweight title fight with Dricus Du Plessis even if he was defeated. “The Last Stylebender” failed to capture the 185-pound gold for a third time but it was clear that his time away from the spotlight had produced some benefits.

    Heading into the championship rounds, the challenger appeared to be in the ascendancy but eventually, in the fourth round, the unwavering persistence of “Stillknocks” paid off and he was able to catch Adesanya, take him down and secure the rear-naked choke. The former champion said in the aftermath of the fight that he was happy with his performance but he made some crucial mistakes that cost him.

    During a recent appearance on Andrew Schulz’s Flagrant podcast, Adesanya spoke more in detail about the mistake that he made right at the end of the fight.

    “The mistake was just a lapse in focus cuz I tripped, bad footwork, and I tripped and then that was when he was kind of throwing at me and people thought like ‘Oh! You hurt him’ and I got up and I was like (points) the ground.”

    He said that though some may have thought he was pointing to the ground to beckon Du Plessis on, he was instead trying to make the point that he had tripped rather than stumbling due to any damage that he had taken. He went on to say that in his previous fights, you never see him lose concentration for a single second.

    The one instance that the City Kickboxing fighter referenced where he did take his eyes off his opponent was during his fight with Derek Brunson where he gestured towards the referee because Brunson grabbed his shorts multiple times. Adesanya believes that this one moment swung the fight against Du Plessis in the defending champion’s favor with the finish quickly following it.

    “Even that moment right there, I shouldn’t have. Just stay focused on the task at hand cuz you need 30 minutes of focus while you’re in there so you can’t even have just a lapse in judgment for a split second because if not, people can jump on you and capitalize and I’ve done that to people as well but this time, it got done to me.”

  • Sean Strickland & Dricus Du Plessis Team Up To Blast ‘Clown’ Jake Paul Over Mike Tyson Clash

    Sean Strickland & Dricus Du Plessis Team Up To Blast ‘Clown’ Jake Paul Over Mike Tyson Clash

    UFC rivals Sean Strickland and Dricus Du Plessis unexpectedly united to slam Jake Paul for fighting Mike Tyson.

    Paul is primed to collide with Tyson in an eight-round heavyweight bout scheduled for Friday at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

    The highly debated boxing showdown has dominated headlines since its announcement, though not for the most favorable of reasons. The focal point has been the jaw-dropping 31-year age gap between the YouTuber-turned-boxer and the former undisputed heavyweight champion, a record-breaking divide that has sparked widespread skepticism about the competitiveness of the matchup.

    Among the many critics of the Paul vs. Tyson bout, Strickland, who is no stranger to bashing “The Problem Child,” has joined the chorus. The former UFC middleweight champion recently took to X and lashed out at Paul over his matchup with the boxing legend in a series of tweets.

    “@jakepaul [Jake Paul] is a clown,” Strickland tweeted. “Your ability to make money off stupid people is impressive, but being rich won’t buy you dignity. You’re fighting a 60-year-old man who is just trying to make a dollar by risking his life.. scum bag.”

    Strickland then reacted to the Netflix promotional video for the fight, taking issue with the “All it takes is one punch” tagline.

    “You’re fighting a 60-year-old… are you a f**king idiot?? This should be illegal… The man had a medical emergency a month before this because he’s too f**king old. F**king clown.”

    Surprisingly, reigning UFC 185-pound champion Du Plessis chimed into the conversation, backing Strickland’s criticism of “The Problem Child”.

    “I don’t always agree with you, but I second that,” Du Plessis wrote. “Still, believe Iron Mike KO’s him.”

    “Iron Mike” hung up his gloves after a loss to Kevin McBride in June 2005. However, Tyson made a comeback to the ring for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020, a bout that ultimately ended in a draw.

    The Paul vs. Tyson fight was originally scheduled for July 20 but was delayed to November after Tyson experienced an ulcer flare-up during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles in May.

  • Dricus Du Plessis: Beating Khamzat Chimaev ‘Warrants A Double Title Fight’

    Dricus Du Plessis: Beating Khamzat Chimaev ‘Warrants A Double Title Fight’

    Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev appear to be on a collision course after Chimaev’s latest statement-making performance. At UFC 308, the undefeated contender submitted former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in the first round, breaking Whittaker’s jaw in the process. With this dominant victory, many believe Chimaev is now next in line for a title shot against Du Plessis.

    However, the title picture also includes Sean Strickland, who remains a viable contender. Speaking with ESPN, Du Plessis explained that a win over Chimaev could open the door for a double title fight.

    Double Title Fight Ambitions

    “If I beat Khamzat Chimaev – I beat Robert Whittaker, then I beat Sean Strickland, then I beat Israel Adesanya, then I beat Khamzat Chimaev, that warrants a double title fight,” Du Plessis told ESPN. “I have a vision, and I can’t picture something more perfect than that.”

    Though Du Plessis is open to fighting anyone the UFC presents, he believes fans are more excited about a matchup with Chimaev.

    “But if you go on what the fans want right now, it’s definitely not the Strickland fight,” Du Plessis added. “If you ask what I want, I want to fight the best guy. I want to fight the guy the fans want me to fight, and that 100 percent is Khamzat. If they give me the Strickland fight, great, I’ll fight Strickland in February, March, or whenever, and then fight Khamzat.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis Says Opponents Make The Same Mistake Against Khamzat Chimaev That They Make Against Him

    Dricus Du Plessis Says Opponents Make The Same Mistake Against Khamzat Chimaev That They Make Against Him

    Dricus Du Plessis is not backing down from the new big challenge that awaits him in the middleweight division. At UFC 308, Khamzat Chimaev delivered a statement performance to put himself into the title picture.

    The undefeated contender submitted former champion Robert Whittaker in the first round and in many people’s eyes, including Du Plessis’, he’s the most exciting option as the next title challenger.

    This is something that “Stillknocks” welcomes, as he recently made clear in his reaction to the fight in an interview. Even in his ruthless performance against “The Reaper” in Abu Dhabi, there’s a narrative that exists around Chimaev.

    Many believe that based on some of his previous fights, “Borz” is extremely dangerous in the opening round but his aggression and intensive grappling quickly drains his gas tank. In a recent interview with ESPN MMA, Du Plessis was asked whether surviving the early stages of a fight with Chimaev would be his focus for a game plan.

    He made the point that fighters would often say the same thing about him until he proved in his last two title fights that he can maintain a consistent pace in the championship rounds. The South African champion said that approaching Chimaev with this mindset would put him at a disadvantage from the very start.

    “Yeah, I’ll be very careful in that sense. I think a lot of guys made that same mistake. I think Sean Strickland made that mistake with me, maybe even Israel. Saying, ‘Listen, get past round one and two with this guy and he’s going to be tired and that’s where you start gaining,’ but if you have a defensive mindset, you’re going to be on the back foot the whole time, especially with a offensive heavy fighter like Khamzat in the offensive wrestling stage and myself in the offensive everything stage.”   

  • Dricus Du Plessis Picks His Preference Between Strickland Rematch Or Chimaev

    Dricus Du Plessis Picks His Preference Between Strickland Rematch Or Chimaev

    Since his submission win over Israel Adesanya in August, it’s looked like Dricus Du Plessis’ next defense of his middleweight title would be against a former foe. Sean Strickland has stuck to his guns that he’s the next in line for the title despite the actions of other contenders.

    The former champion was beaten by Du Plessis in January where he lost the belt via a split decision, rebounding with a win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302. Strickland getting his rematch looked like it was on the cards for early next year until the aftermath of UFC 308 this past weekend.

    In the co-main event, Khamzat Chimaev submitted former champion Robert Whittaker in the first round to maintain his undefeated record and earn his biggest win to date. As a result, “Borz” has shot up the middleweight rankings, climbing ten places. When you look back at both men’s performances, it’s clear to see who the fans are more excited in seeing challenge Du Plessis next time out.

    During a recent interview with Radioraps, the 185-pound king gave his thoughts on the current situation, stating which fight interests him more at this moment in time. Considering that he’s beaten Strickland before and Chimaev is one of the most talked about fighters in the world right now, his decision was an easy one.

    “I think we always knew that between Rob and Khamzat, if there was going to be something exceptional that happens, there might be a change in the title fight. We have no clarity on that but as a fan of the sport and as the middleweight champion of the world, that’s a fight that gets me more excited. You know, taking somebody’s 0.

    “I’ve beaten Strickland before and I know I’ll beat him again so now getting that Khamzat fight, that gets me excited. I think the whole world, the fans want to see it. The fans ultimately pay to watch the fights so the fight the world thinks is the best next fight, that’s what I want. So yeah, I think the Khamzat fight is 100% what I want, the UFC is going to do what they’re going to do.”  

  • Dricus Du Plessis Warns Khamzat Chimaev After UFC 308

    Dricus Du Plessis Warns Khamzat Chimaev After UFC 308

    Khamzat Chimaev scored a major victory on Saturday night at UFC 308, submitting Robert Whittaker in the first round of their co-main event fight. Dricus Du Plessis, watching alongside fans worldwide, is eager for a chance to end Chimaev’s undefeated streak.

    Following the fight, Chimaev clarified that he wants a title shot next. If the promotion decides to schedule a rematch between Du Plessis and Sean Strickland, he would likely need to wait for that to happen.

    UFC CEO Dana White discussed potential matchups post-fight, leaving all options open. Meanwhile, Du Plessis took to social media to call his shot, expressing both respect for Whittaker and his desire to put the first loss on Chimaev’s record.

    “Feel really sorry for Rob; he looked super ready, but this is the fight game. Well done on a good performance, Khamzat. That being said, I can’t wait to take your 0,” Du Plessis tweeted.

    With this win, Chimaev made a strong statement and solidified his position as a top midweight title contender.

  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Says Khamzat Chimaev Will Be ‘Out Of His League’ Against Robert Whittaker

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Says Khamzat Chimaev Will Be ‘Out Of His League’ Against Robert Whittaker

    Despite having fought seven times inside the Octagon, the potential of Khamzat Chimaev still has some question marks hanging over it. Listen to anyone that trains with the middleweight contender and they will tell you that he’s the champion in waiting.

    However, his recent performances and issues with staying active have significantly pumped the breaks on what was once the biggest hype train in the entire sport.

    We will find out this weekend at UFC 308 where Chimaev ranks amongst the rest of the middleweight division when he faces former champion Robert Whittaker. “The Reaper” has fought many of the top contenders and has only lost at 185-pounds to two champions in Israel Adesanya and Dricus Du Plessis.

    Even in a win that looks great on paper over Kamaru Usman last time out, there was some doubters due to how close the fight was despite Usman stepping up a weight class as a short notice replacement for Paulo Costa. This won’t be the same for a victory against someone that is as highly regarded and proven as Whittaker.

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Du Plessis’ coach Morne Visser weighed in with his thoughts on the fight. Having spent time preparing his fighter to face Whittaker in the past, he knows how good the former champion is.

    He believes that Whittaker won’t just get the win on Saturday night, he will show that Chimaev isn’t ready to compete with the best guys in the weight class.

    “That fight against Usman, who’s a genuine welterweight, was way too close for me. His stand-up is, in my opinion, suspect. His wrestling, he couldn’t do anything with Usman and Rob’s stand-up is phenomenal, his wrestling and his ground work’s awesome so I honestly think Khamzat’s out of his league here. He’s gotta go back to welter where he maybe stands a chance to become something or become a champion. At this stage, I honestly think Rob beats Khamzat and I don’t think it’s gonna be on points, he’s going to grind him. Rob’s a tough dude and he’s smart and he’s got a smart team behind him.”

  • Anthony Hernandez Assesses Future Dricus Du Plessis Clash After UFC Fight Night Win

    Anthony Hernandez Assesses Future Dricus Du Plessis Clash After UFC Fight Night Win

    UFC middleweight contender Anthony Hernandez has a firm eye on Dricus Du Plessis and his gold.

    The fan favorite boosted his chances of booking a spot opposite the reigning champion at 185 pounds down the line on Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night card at the Apex, where he emerged victorious from his maiden main event.

    Hernandez emphatically ended the winning run of Michel Pereira, putting a beating on the Brazilian across four rounds before forcing the TKO stoppage in the final frame.

    During his post-fight press conference, Hernandez outlined his plans to repeat the performance he put in all the way to the top.

    When he gets there, the current title scenario in the middleweight division would see the #13-ranked contender challenge the reign of Du Plessis, which commenced at the expense of Sean Strickland at the start of 2024 and has already gone through Israel Adesanya.

    Hernandez looked ahead to a potential clash with “Stillknocks” in the future with a respectful assessment of the champ’s style, which has continually proved fans and analysts wrong on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “I think it would be a great fight. Realistically, who mixes it up really well would be Du Plessis,” Hernandez said. “He mixes it very f*cking well, and that’s why he’s champion right now. He’s just a tough motherf*cker and he goes. He looks like he’s gassed and he keeps pushing. I’d love to fight him. I’m just going to keep climbing the ladder so I can get to him. Great job to him. Keep up the great work, man.”

    Hernandez would seem to have a decent chunk of work to do before standing opposite the middleweight kingpin, however.

    And after defending his spot on the ladder this past weekend to make it six wins on the bounce, the 31-year-old will no doubt be setting his sights on the top 10 next time out.

  • Sean Strickland To Train With Bellator Champion For Dricus Du Plessis Rematch

    Sean Strickland To Train With Bellator Champion For Dricus Du Plessis Rematch

    It is all but official that Sean Strickland will be fighting Dricus Du Plessis for the UFC middleweight championship next. When they last fought in January 2024, DDP won a razor-close split decision to become the new champion.

    Strickland returned in June 2024 to win yet another split decision, this time against Paulo Costa which he believed to be enough for another title shot. Du Plessis, on the other hand, defended the title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, becoming the first fighter to submit “The Last Stylebender.”

    To ensure Strickland doesn’t lose the rematch, Eric Nicksick will rely on a Bellator champion who brings out the best in his fighter…

    Sean Strickland’s Coach Trusts Johhny Eblen With Emulating Dricus Du Plessis’ Style In Training

    Nicksick recently appeared on the MMAFightingonSBN YouTube channel to discuss his fighters like Francis Ngannou, Strickland, and Daniel Zellhuber. When asked about the former UFC middleweight champion, he admitted that a better game plan could’ve helped him beat “Stillknocks”.

    The coach then brought up Johnny Eblen, the reigning Bellator middleweight champion. The undefeated American fighter has defended the belt three times and will rematch Fabian Edwards in the upcoming Saudi Arabia card. After healing up from the fight, Nicksick expects Eblen to join Strickland in training for DDP.

    “I’m bringing in Johnny Eblen, for sure. Like, I brought Johhny in, we brought Johnny in for, well, we bring him in all the time but Johnny will fight on the Saudi card so once he gets healed up and ready to come, we’ll have him out here. Johnny brings the best out of Sean, and in styles, I think Johnny can emulate so many different styles for us. He’s another guy I consider a teammate although he’s a, you know, ATT champion. We cross train quite a bit so I’m gonna lean heavy on Johnny Eblen this camp.”

    The coach credited Du Plessis for having an unorthodox yet effective fighting style. Although it is hard to copy such a fighter, he believes Eblen to be the best at it. Despite being an American Top Team fighter, he regularly cross-trains at Xtreme Couture.

    On top of having the best training partners possible, Nicksick wants to rectify a bunch of errors this time around. He highlighted Strickland’s high dependency on his jab and believes adding more tools to his fighter’s arsenal could be worthwhile.

  • Du Plessis’ Coach Reveals His Fight Plans, Predicts Strickland Won’t Be Next Opponent

    Du Plessis’ Coach Reveals His Fight Plans, Predicts Strickland Won’t Be Next Opponent

    Following his latest title defense at UFC 305, middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis seems to have his next few targets lined up.

    Many presumed that former champion Sean Strickland would be his next challenger in a rematch of their bout at UFC 297 earlier this year.

    The two fought to a split decision, with Strickland rebounding with a win over Paulo Costa in June.

    Additionally, the upcoming fight between former champion Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev later this month could also influence the title picture.

    That’s exactly what Du Plessis’ coach believes, as he provided a recent update on the return plans for “Stillknocks”.

    Morne Visser Thinks Robert Whittaker in February Is Next for Dricus Du Plessis

    Visser told Submission Radio that Du Plessis’ next opponent isn’t as guaranteed as many assume, though he does have a date in mind.

    The CIT Performance Institute head coach revealed that in his latest conversation with the champion, they discussed a February fight in Sydney, which looks almost certain.

    “I had a conversation with Dricus yesterday, and I told him there’s only one thing certain at this stage: we need to be ready to fight in Sydney in February. My opinion is Sean’s overselling it—he’s had one win after Dricus, against Costa. Whittaker has two, and I think he’s going for number three now.”

    Visser added that he believes Whittaker is the most likely opponent for Du Plessis, provided he defeats Chimaev.

    “The Reaper” was defeated by Du Plessis at UFC 290, but he’s bounced back with wins over Costa and Ikram Aliskerov.

    “My honest opinion is that next in line for us will be Whittaker in Sydney in February. I think he’s going to beat Khamzat, and I honestly believe they’ll give him the title shot.”

    Visser also mentioned that while the UFC will likely wait to see the outcome of Whittaker vs. Chimaev, he doesn’t think Chimaev will leapfrog Strickland for the title shot if he wins.

    Read also: Kevin Holland Dismisses Israel Adesanya As Exciting Opponent: ‘Now He’s Just Some Guy Who Can’t Stop Running Backwards’

  • Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Gives His Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Striking: ‘No Real Good Technique…’

    Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson Gives His Verdict On Dricus Du Plessis’ Striking: ‘No Real Good Technique…’

    The unorthodox style of Dricus Du Plessis has prompted a lot of discussion during his rise up the middleweight ladder.

    He was criticized for being far too sloppy from a technique standpoint, but despite that, continued to rack up wins en route to becoming UFC champion.

    Du Plessis recently commented on this himself, by responding to a breakdown of some of the striking techniques that he uses.

    “Stillknocks” made fun of the analysis, claiming that he doesn’t think about or plan any of the things that the video suggested but just does what comes to mind in the moment – which has proven to be very effective for him.

    “Wonderboy” Explains Why Du Plessis Is Effective On Auto-Pilot Despite Questionable Technique

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, one of the greatest strikers in UFC history, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson, gave his thoughts on Du Plessis’ style.

    As an elite kickboxer, the former welterweight title challenger was able to explain why it’s difficult for even someone as skilled and experienced as him, to fight an unpredictable opponent.

    He believes that Du Plessis’ lack of finesse or “good technique” is what makes him a difficult opponent to strike with because he’s hard to read.

    Thompson says that the middleweight champion’s mindset when it comes to making adjustments in the fight is a part of that, because he’s fighting on instinct for the most part.

    “It’s so weird, I can see how people would have a lot of difficulty fighting him because he does a lot of pulling techniques, he does spinning techniques and it’s like with no real good technique and I understand where he’s coming from when people are like breaking down his fights. He’s out there not thinking about it but it’s all in the training how he’s developing all of this, even though he’s not thinking about it, what he’s doing is working because it’s years of preparation, doing all the sparring and things like that. So you’re not thinking about it but at the same time, your body is doing it without you even knowing it.”

    Read also: Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

  • Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

    Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

    It was not the best of nights for Brendan Allen at UFC Paris, coming up short against Nassourdine Imavov in a crucial co-main event clash of top middleweight contenders.

    Allen appeared to be in complete control of the fight over the first five minutes, laying into Imavov and delivering most, if not all, of the activity in the first round. But the American seemed to fatigue from there.

    That led to the Frenchman taking control, especially in the grappling realm. Imavov ultimately scored the judges’ nod on all three scorecards.

    This fight did not do Allen any favors as he aims to finally capture a shot at the UFC middleweight championship. And current champ, Dricus Du Plessis — someone who Allen is not fond of — let him know it on social media after the performance.

    Dricus Du Plessis, Brendan Allen Trade Barbs On Social Media After Allen’s Loss At UFC Paris

    Allen was not going to let Du Plessis’ comments go unnoticed, giving him a response back. “All In” reiterated a past claim, stating that the South African has been avoiding him during his rise up the middleweight ranks.

    Allen saw a seven-fight win streak snapped as a result of his loss in Paris.

  • Alex Pereira Sheds Light On Talk Of Middleweight Return: ‘I Just Needed A Break’

    Alex Pereira Sheds Light On Talk Of Middleweight Return: ‘I Just Needed A Break’

    In his relatively short time in the UFC thus far, Alex Pereira has quickly earned a pair of championships and status as a top name in the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.

    Some are eyeing a potential move to heavyweight for Pereira, who defends the UFC light heavyweight championship next weekend against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307. But he has previously noted that he could be looking at a move back down to middleweight in the wake of Dricus Du Plessis retaining the UFC middleweight title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

    In a new interview with The Schmo, “Poatan” stated the move to 205 pounds was done in order to take a break from tough weight cuts.

    “I would like [a fight with Du Plessis] to be at middleweight,” Pereira said. “I told everybody that I just needed a break from 185, from all those weight cuts. I feel good, I feel healthy right now.”

    Pereira, who was also a middleweight and light heavyweight champion in GLORY Kickboxing, made his UFC debut as a middleweight at UFC 268. He quickly won three straight before challenging Adesanya, his old kickboxing foe, for the middleweight title at UFC 281.

    Pereira won via fifth-round finish but was knocked out by Adesanya in a rematch at UFC 287.

    Pereira then moved up to light heavyweight, defeating Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 before defeating Jiří Procházka  at UFC 295 for the light heavyweight title.

    Pereira has since defended the 205-pound title against Jamahal Hill and Procházka at UFC 300 and 303, respectively.

  • Former ONE Double Champ Names His UFC Hitlist After Joining Promotion

    Former ONE Double Champ Names His UFC Hitlist After Joining Promotion

    Former ONE Championship two-division titleholder Reinier De Ridder is the UFC’s latest notable signee, and he believes he’s primed to take on the challenges within the promotion’s highly competitive middleweight division.

    “The Dutch Knight” dominated the ONE Championship middleweight and light heavyweight divisions from November 2020 until this past March. During his tenure, De Ridder initially rode high on the momentum of a seven-fight win streak.

    However, his reign came to an abrupt end as he suffered consecutive defeats to Anatoly Malykhin, resulting in the loss of both titles. De Ridder boasts a professional MMA record of 17-2, with an impressive 11 of those victories coming by way of submission.

    De Ridder is fresh off a first-round knockout victory against Magomedmurad Khasaev at UAE Warriors this past July, and the 34-year-old Dutchman is confident he can harness that momentum as he makes his entrance into the UFC.

    De Ridder Sets Sights on Top-5 Rivals Following UFC Debut

    During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, De Ridder revealed his aspirations for dream matchups within the UFC. “The Dutch Knight” expressed a strong desire to challenge himself against the reigning middleweight champion, Dricus Du Plessis, as well as former titleholders such as Robert Whittaker, Israel Adesanya, and Sean Strickland.

    The grappling prodigy emphasized that he has no time to squander now that he’s joined the UFC, and he’s eager to take on high-profile opponents.

    “Right now. Let’s go,” De Ridder said. “I’m ready. That’s what I’m here for. It would be so cool to finally get a shot at those guys. They’ve been around for so long. I’ve been around for a little while now, as well, so it would be very cool to finally get a chance to fight those guys… Adesanya, Dricus, Strickland, all of them. Why not?”

    However, before “The Dutch Knight” can focus on his desired matchups, he must first conquer veteran Gerald Meerschaert in his promotional debut at a Fight Night event on November 9 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.