At UFC 319, held in Chicago’s United Center, former UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad expressed his belief that Dricus du Plessis was content with merely surviving his title fight against Khamzat Chimaev. Muhammad suggested that du Plessis prioritized avoiding a submission loss rather than pursuing victory, highlighting a lack of willingness to take significant risks during the bout.
Dominance of Khamzat Chimaev and Du Plessis’ Struggles on the Ground
The highly anticipated UFC Middleweight Championship fight ended as a one-sided grappling contest, with Khamzat Chimaev controlling du Plessis throughout. Muhammad pointed out that Chimaev exploited a clear weakness in du Plessis’ wrestling defense, which had been exposed in previous fights against Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, and Darren Till. He noted,
“I’m just wondering what their game plan was, What they thought was going to happen, if they underestimated the wrestling? Because like I said, in the Derek Brunson fight, we’ve seen that hole in your game. Brunson had mount, Brunson had side control, Brunson got you down with ease. (Robert) Whittaker got you down, and even Darren Till got you down.” —Belal Muhammad, Former UFC Welterweight Champion
Muhammad further explained how du Plessis’ previous matches against strikers may have contributed to an overcrowded blind spot in his defensive strategy, saying,
“We’ve seen all those paths, and like I said, your last three fights were all against strikers so, you didn’t really have the risks of going against anybody that’s going to shoot on you. Now you did, now we see. That’s a hole. Khamzat pretty much dominated it. There’s no reason for him to be down, to be upset, it was a dominating fight, one of the most dominating championship fights we’ve seen.” —Belal Muhammad, Former UFC Welterweight Champion
Ongoing Rivalry and Future Prospects in UFC Divisions
Belal Muhammad and Dricus du Plessis have exchanged verbal jabs for months, starting as du Plessis hinted at a move up to the welterweight division. Muhammad dismissed du Plessis’ chances in a potential fight between them, keeping his attention on the welterweight ranks for now. Nevertheless, the history of tension between the two means a confrontation could happen if they continue on intersecting paths.
Since both fighters recently lost their titles, they face the challenge of regrouping and adjusting their strategies moving forward in their careers.
Recognizing the UFC 319 Impact and Larger Implications
This fight highlighted significant vulnerabilities in Dricus du Plessis’ game, particularly his wrestling defense, when faced with an aggressive grappler like Khamzat Chimaev. Muhammad’s critical assessment underscores questions about future training focus and tactical planning for du Plessis. The contest also reinforces Chimaev’s dominance in the middleweight division, suggesting he could remain a major title contender for some time.
As du Plessis and Muhammad prepare for their next steps, the outcomes of their adaptations could shape the competitive landscape in UFC’s middleweight and welterweight divisions.