Dricus du Plessis, the reigning middleweight champion, spoke candidly about a possible fight with Reinier de Ridder, emphasizing that personal relationships would not affect their competition. With several top contenders like Nassourdine Imavov, Caio Borralho, and de Ridder vying for a UFC title shot, du Plessis remains focused on defending his belt and overcoming whoever stands in his way.
Among the middleweight contenders, the path to the title is narrowing. Du Plessis recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show to discuss the potential landscape. He suggested that if Imavov wins his upcoming bout against Borralho at UFC Paris on September 2, Imavov might be next in line for the title. However, if Borralho defeats Imavov, he could face de Ridder in a title eliminator to determine the top contender.
”I honestly think that if Caio Borralho beats Nassourdine Imavov, they are gonna make him and Reinier de Ridder fight for number one contender. If Imamov beats Caio, they’re gonna give him the title shot because it’s time.”
—Dricus du Plessis, Middleweight Champion
Du Plessis also addressed concerns about facing de Ridder, given their previous training relationship. Despite their history as friends and training partners, du Plessis made it clear that personal bonds have no place inside the octagon when a championship is on the line.
”No, not at all. I would fight my brother for my title if I have to. And I would try to kill him, I promise you that. And he’s my best friend. No. When we get in there, there are no friends. There are no relationships in a fight.”
—Dricus du Plessis, Middleweight Champion
Currently, du Plessis is preparing for his third defense of the middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 on August 16, to be held at the United Center in Chicago. He aims to deliver Chimaev his first professional loss and solidify his standing as the division’s top fighter.
Meanwhile, Reinier de Ridder remains a formidable contender in the middleweight division. The Dutch fighter is riding a four-fight winning streak in the UFC, most recently securing a split decision victory over former champion Robert Whittaker at UFC Abu Dhabi last month. His steady rise positions him as a serious threat for the title or a number one contender spot in the near future.
De Ridder’s insights on du Plessis vs. Chimaev clash at UFC 319
Reinier de Ridder, who has trained alongside both du Plessis and Chimaev, recently shared his thoughts on their impending title fight. Speaking to MMA Fighting, de Ridder offered an analytical perspective on what fans could expect in the matchup.
De Ridder highlighted the aggressive approach Khamzat Chimaev is likely to take early in the fight, while emphasizing du Plessis’s difficult style and resilience against takedowns. His evaluation suggested a potentially challenging night ahead for Chimaev if du Plessis can deliver his heavy strikes and maintain control.
”I’ve trained with both of them. I’d say especially in a five round fight, Khamzat is most likely going to come out guns blazing again, shoot right away but Dricus is not that easy to take down..Because with that unorthodox style of Dricus and those heavy hands, I think it might be a long night for Khamzat…I’m going with Dricus but Khamzat would be cool, too, if it gets it. But I think Dricus has a good chance.”
—Reinier de Ridder, Middleweight Contender
This assessment demonstrates de Ridder’s respect for du Plessis’s capabilities, while also recognizing the threat that Chimaev poses. As the middleweight division continues to evolve with multiple fighters pushing for title contention, the upcoming UFC 319 event will be a critical moment for all involved.
The potential Reinier de Ridder fight remains a topic of high interest, especially as du Plessis defends his belt and contenders like Borralho and Imavov battle for the next big opportunity. Should Borralho win next month, a showdown between du Plessis and de Ridder to determine the next challenger could become inevitable.