Dricus du Plessis is preparing to defend his middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 on August 16. In anticipation of the fight, du Plessis has shared his detailed plan to counter Chimaev‘s strength and wrestling ability as part of his overall Khamzat Chimaev fight plan.
Since making his UFC debut, du Plessis, nicknamed ‘Borz,’ has remained undefeated within the promotion, securing wins over top-tier competitors like Gilbert Burns, Kamaru Usman, and Robert Whittaker.
Du Plessis Emphasizes Aggressive Wrestling Tactics to Challenge Chimaev
During a recent interview with Chicago Sports Network, du Plessis was asked how he intends to handle Chimaev’s well-known grappling and wrestling skills. He outlined his approach as focusing on physical dominance and a bully-style fighting method.
“I think the one thing that you have to look at in at Khamzat [Chimaev], being a grappling, wrestling pedigree, especially in the wrestling aspect. So, it’s not pure grappling but more of a wrestling style because he’s so physically dominant. And if you look at my fights, I try to do the exact same thing. It’s a bully style of fighting.”
—Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion
Du Plessis stressed that he does not intend to fight Chimaev cautiously, but rather to confront him directly and aggressively.
“I think that is the exact way you beat a guy like this, and that’s how I’m going to beat him… That’s at the end of the day, you get the guys that fight him because he has this name. He has this aura, he is unbeaten, and people fight him in a defensive way, and I don’t think that’s the way to fight him. I think you have to face him head-on. Go for it and give him some of his own medicine.”
—Dricus du Plessis, UFC Middleweight Champion
Contender Reinier de Ridder Shares Support for Du Plessis’ Potential Victory
Dricus du Plessis captured the UFC middleweight title in January 2024 and has already defended it twice. On the other hand, Khamzat Chimaev has fought just once since beating Kamaru Usman at UFC 294 last October, making their upcoming bout highly anticipated.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, UFC middleweight contender Reinier de Ridder expressed his hope that du Plessis will emerge victorious, which would allow him to compete for the title sooner rather than later.
“I think if Khamzat [Chimaev] wins this one, especially if he wins decisively, he’ll be a huge name, and that might come with him taking a lot of time off after. So it might be better if Dricus [du Plessis] wins, and then we can fight in 4–6 months. That would be best… So hopefully, it would be nice if Dricus wins and we can line it up.”
—Reinier de Ridder, UFC Middleweight Contender
Significance of the Upcoming Middleweight Title Match
The clash between du Plessis and Chimaev at UFC 319 represents a critical moment for the middleweight division, as the undefeated records and contrasting styles of two elite fighters collide. Du Plessis’ plan to impose a physically dominant, wrestling-centered approach challenges Chimaev’s established grappling reputation directly.
If du Plessis succeeds, he will not only maintain his unbeaten streak but also set the stage for future title defenses and potential matchups, including a likely bout with Reinier de Ridder within the next several months. Meanwhile, a Chimaev victory could cement his status as a dominant force before possibly taking an extended break from competition.