UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis: No middleweight can ‘overpower me,’ not even Khamzat Chimaev

UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis has no doubt he can match Khamzat Chimaev’s physical prowess.

UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] has no doubt he can match [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]’s physical prowess.

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) turned his attention to Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) after the unbeaten contender ran through Robert Whittaker for a first-round submission this past Saturday at UFC 308. Chimaev’s strength and grappling proved to be too much once again, but Du Plessis says “Borz” won’t be able to impose his will on him.

“When I fight, I don’t know how to back up,” Du Plessis told TMZ. “I’m going to go out there and fight you. We’ve seen this with Khamzat, slowing down after the first round, round-and-a-half, and I think that is because he uses so much power.

“He has the wrestling technique, of course, but he uses his strength as a weapon. In this case, he has a gun, and I have a tank when it comes to the strength. There’s not a middleweight that’s going to overpower me. It’s not going to happen.”

In the UFC 308 post-fight news conference, Chimaev was asked by MMA Junkie about Du Plessis’ grappling, which he immediately dismissed – but the champion issued him a warning.

“If it’s Khamzat, you think you’re strong, you think you’re powerful, you have not felt anything,” Du Plessis said. “And I can’t wait until I see it on his face because I see it on every single person I fight’s face. When they realize, ‘Oh sh*t.’ That’s the message.”

Du Plessis also explained his decision of pivoting to Chimaev over a Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) rematch. Du Plessis claimed the middleweight title by edging out Strickland at UFC 297, a fight Strickland believes he won.

“I completely welcome the Strickland rematch. I’d love to get that finish because for Sean, he needs a win back, I need a finish,” Du Plessis said. “He doesn’t mind to fight boring fights like most of his fights. That’s why he has seven or eight split decision wins. For me, I want to fight a guy like Khamzat to throw down. Not say that he’s going to then jab for five rounds. Myself and Sean, it was a close fight, but there was no doubt in my mind that I won that fight. … Strickland just beat Paulo Costa in a very boring fight once again, right after our fight.

“Whether it was close or not, it’s still a loss. Khamzat, they’ve hyped up this guy for so long, but he hasn’t come to fruition. He hasn’t lost, but the fight cancellations and him being sick. Sometimes that’s out of our control. But he was the first guy to ever submit Rob, and he did it in the first round, and that warrants him jumping the gun on Sean Strickland for me. If you ask me personally, that’s a fight I would rather want because that’s a fight the people want. It’s a fight more fans want, and I believe Khamzat is the next best guy.”

Kamaru Usman: Khamzat Chimaev ‘100 percent’ can take down Dricus Du Plessis, not sure if he finishes

Kamaru Usman admits Khamzat Chimaev is “hell in that first round,” but he’s not sure that’s enough to beat UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis.

[autotag]Kamaru Usman[/autotag] doesn’t doubt [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]’s chances of taking UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] down to the ground.

Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) dominated former champ Robert Whittaker to earn a first-round submission in Saturday’s UFC 308 co-main event in Abu Dhabi. Usman has first-hand experience of Chimaev’s strength. Usman was taken down and controlled for all of Round 1 of their matchup at UFC 294, but he managed to survive the onslaught. He wound up losing the bout by majority decision after rallying late.

Just like how Chimaev managed to control Whittaker, Usman doesn’t see it going any differently for Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) – but maybe not a finish.

“Khamzat is hell in that first round,” Usman said on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Henry Cejudo. “He is hell when he’s dry like that, and he’s big and strong, and he still moves like a welterweight. It’s hell for anybody. Do I think he can do that to Dricus? I think 100 percent he could take Dricus down.

“I think he can keep him down, but I don’t know if he can get the finish because Dricus is very, very tough. There’s a reason Dricus is the champ. He’s very tough, and Dricus will not stop trying. Will Khamzat take him down? Yes. Could he keep him down? Yes, maybe the whole first round. But can he finish him? I don’t know.”

Chimaev’s performance got middleweight champion Du Plessis’ attention, and he could end up leapfrogging Sean Strickland as No. 1 contender after UFC 308.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis: Khamzat Chimaev ‘gets me more excited’ than Sean Strickland rematch

Dricus Du Plessis has diverted his attention to Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 308.

Middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] has diverted his attention to [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] after UFC 308.

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) was expecting to run things back with [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) for his next title defense. But after Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) ran through former champ Robert Whittaker for a first-round submission in Saturday’s UFC 308 co-main event, Du Plessis now has a new target.

“We always knew that, between Rob and Khamzat, if it was going to be something exceptional that happens, there might be a change in the title fight,” Du Plessis told Radioraps. “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 – taking somebody’s 0. I’ve beaten Strickland before, and I know I’ll beat him again.

“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. I think the Khamzat fight is 100 percent what I want. The UFC is going to do what they’re going to do, but from a fan perspective and from a fighter’s perspective, I think Khamzat should get the next shot.”

Du Plessis’ head coach, Morne Visser, echoed that sentiment on Instagram.

“3 athletes that started their UFC careers around the same time @tomaspinallofficial @dricusduplessis @iliatopuria 3 world champions, that will stay champions for a really long time!

Massive congrats to @iliatopuria on a phenomenal performance.

We want Khamzat next in February.
Prepare to be amazed once again.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DBpzYxTopvd/?img_index=1

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Champ Dricus Du Plessis warns Khamzat Chimaev after UFC 308: ‘I can’t wait to take your 0’

Dricus Du Plessis is relishing the chance to end Khamzat Chimaev’s undefeated streak after UFC 308.

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] is relishing the chance to end [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag]’s undefeated streak after UFC 308.

Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) made a frightening statement that he should be next to challenge for the middleweight title held by Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) on Saturday when he destroyed Robert Whittaker by first-round submission in the co-main event matchup at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

After the fight, Chimaev made it clear he wants to challenge for gold in his next fight, whether that means immediately or waiting for a rematch between Du Plessis and Sean Strickland to play out. The UFC has yet to book Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2, though, and UFC CEO Dana White said post-fight that he is going to mull all potential options for what’s next in Tuesday’s matchmaker meeting.

It appears Du Plessis is trying to help make that decision easier, however, because in his first reaction to Chimaev’s win, he said he is eager for the chance to put the first blemish on what is currently a flawless record in MMA competition (via X):

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

The confidence on Chimaev’s end going into a potential championship showdown with Du Plessis was evident in the aftermath of UFC 308, and he predicted it would be a rough night for him – and his last moment sitting at the top of the mountain.

“How I did with this guy, Rob, and how he done?” Chimaev said. “Rob took him down, so if Rob took him down, there is salam alaikum (against me).”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Khamzat Chimaev: If Robert Whittaker took Dricus Du Plessis down, it’s ‘salam alaikum’ against me

Khamzat Chimaev has no doubt he would slice through UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis on the ground.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] has no doubt he would slice through UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] on the ground.

Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) quickly submitted Robert Whittaker (27-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC) with a face crank in the first round of their middleweight bout Saturday, which co-headlined UFC 308 at Etihad Arena.

Two weeks ago, UFC CEO Dana White said Du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2 is next. He refused to commit to his initial plans during the post-fight news conference, and Chimaev is ready to slide in for a title shot if the UFC grants him the opportunity.

“It doesn’t matter Sean or Dricus, just going for the gold,” Chimaev told reporters, including MMA Junkie at the UFC 308 post-fight news conference. “So we’ll see what happens next. I’m ready.”

When asked about Du Plessis’ grappling, Chimaev quickly dismissed it.

“How I did with this guy, Rob, and how he done?” Chimaev said. “Rob took him down, so if Rob took him down, there is salam alaikum (against me).”

If not a title shot, Chimaev said he’d be down to fight former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

“For me, Adesanya would be a good money fight because he has a big name,” Chimaev said. “Sean Strickland, we’ve been in the gym. We have some stuff not done yet, so that would be good history as well.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.

Anthony Hernandez holds Dricus Du Plessis in high regard – as he would a fight against him

How far away is Anthony Hernandez from a title shot? He thinks at least two more fights are likely.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Anthony Hernandez[/autotag] isn’t one for callouts because he doesn’t really watch fights.

However, the undeniable and sometimes inexplicable danger of UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] has broken the barrier of disinterest.

Following his UFC Fight Night 245 win, Hernandez (13-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) voiced confidence in his own ability to put on pressure and drown opponents, as he did Michel Pereira on Saturday at the UFC Apex.

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is the only other guy he thinks is the ballpark of putting forward that cardio-heavy attack.

“I think it would be a great fight realistically who mixes it up really well would be Du Plessis,” Hernandez told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “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.”

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That’s not the next step, though. Hernandez knows it.

So what’s next? Hernandez thinks it’ll be at least two more fights before he comes within a direct arm’s reach of UFC gold.

“Hopefully, but probably not,” Hernandez said. “There are guys ahead of me. I’m not stupid. I know how this sh*t works. Those guys have … it’s all about timing and sh*t. I’m just going to keep doing what I do. I’m going to stay ready and when my time comes, I’m going to show the f*ck out and I’ll get it eventually.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.

Dana White confirms Sean Strickland next for Dricus Du Plessis, details hurdles with UFC Africa

It appears the UFC is struggling to break into Africa. Dana White explains why.

LAS VEGAS – It appears the UFC is facing some hurdles in its attempt to break into Africa.

[autotag]Dana White[/autotag] was hoping South African UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]’ next title defense would be at home, but he doesn’t think it’s currently feasible. White did, however, confirm that a rematch with [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] is next – even though Du Plessis’ head coach, Morne Visser, dismissed Strickland.

White broke down the obstacles the UFC is currently facing in trying to bring an event to Africa for the first time.

“Yeah, so you know how bad I want this,” White said Tuesday during the Dana White’s Contender Series 75 post-fight news conference at the UFC Apex. “I’ve been trying to get this thing done. The arena situation there is tough. It’s tough to pull off. That’s been the challenge with Africa as a whole, so we’re trying to figure it out. The place we would have to do it at is outdoors, and you know how I feel about that.

“I’ve been trying to figure out the weather and one of the big things that I’ve been hearing out there is wind is a big problem. We’ve done it a couple times, but anything that can affect the outcome of the fight makes me not even want to try. So, you know, and it’s anything from wind, rain, bugs. I mean, too much humidity. A lot of things can interfere with the fight.”

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) dethroned Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) by split decision to become middleweight champion at UFC 297 in January. Since then, Strickland rebounded with a win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302, and Du Plessis retained his title with a submission of Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

Visser said the plan is for Du Plessis’ next title defense to take place February in Sydney.

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Dricus Du Plessis’ coach says next fight will be February in Sydney – but not vs. Sean Strickland

Dricus Du Plessis’ coach rules Sean Strickland out of the title race.

[autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]’ coach rules [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] out of the title race.

Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) lost his title to Du Plessis by split decision at UFC 297 in January – a fight he’s adamant he won. Strickland then rebounded with a decision win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June, and said he won’t fight again unless it’s for a title.

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) submitted Israel Adesanya to notch his first title defense at UFC 305 in August. His coach Morne Visser revealed that the plan is to return February in Sydney, but not against Strickland. He thinks if Robert Whittaker gets past Khamzat Chimaev Oct. 26 at UFC 308, he’s next.

“I had a conversation actually yesterday with Dricus, and I said to him, ‘There’s only one thing for certain at this stage, only one thing, and that’s that we’ve got to be ready to fight in Sydney in February,'” Visser told Submission Radio. “My opinion is Sean’s overselling it.

“He’s just had one win after Dricus and that was against Costa. Whittaker had two, and I think he’s going to go for No. 3 now. So I think my honest opinion is that next for us in line will be Whittaker in Sydney in February. I think he’s going to beat Khamzat, and I honestly think that they’re going to give him the shot.”

If Chimaev remains unbeaten against Whittaker, then Visser says that could be a potential fight for Du Plessis, but likely at a different date.

“Even if you think about it, that there’s even a slight possibility that if Khamzat beats Rob, that Dricus has fought and beaten Sean and Rob,” Visser said. “So if Khamzat beats Rob, I think they’re going to play their cards a little bit different and we’re going to fight Khamzat later. But so far, the only thing that’s confirmed is we will be fighting in February in Sydney.”

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Miesha Tate: Julianna Peña’s striking ‘extremely underrated,’ like UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis

Like Dricus Du Plessis, Miesha Tate thinks Julianna Peña’s striking is more effective than people give her credit for.

Like [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag], [autotag]Miesha Tate[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Julianna Peña[/autotag]’s striking is more effective than people give her credit for.

Peña (12-5 MMA, 7-3 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington (16-9 MMA, 13-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 307 (pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+) co-main event at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Peña was one of Tate’s first female training partners in Washington, so the pair go way back. Tate also coached both Peña and Pennington during Season 18 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which Peña won. Although Peña is known more for her ground game, Tate says her striking can’t be underestimated.

“I think Julianna’s striking is extremely underrated,” Tate told MMA Junkie Radio. “I think her striking is actually very effective – people just don’t understand it. It’s kind of like (Dricus Du Plessis). I think a lot of people look at him, and they don’t really respect his striking, either. I draw some similarities in their striking.

“(Julianna), when she hits you, it’s not a snapping punch. It’s like a joust. You’ve seen those guys that run at each other on horses (with) the jousting sticks? People don’t realize how hard she hits until they get hit by (her). We saw that happen when she took out Amanda (Nunes). Her boxing might not be traditional, but that’s also a benefit.”

Tate is familiar with Pennington’s game, too. She also compared her style to another current UFC champion.

“She’s such a clean, beautiful striker, and she’s very precise,” Tate said of Pennington. “Her defense is so good. I actually liken her style to Valentina Shevchenko. If you think about it, stylistically, they’re pretty similar. They have good bases, and they never overreact.

“Valentina Shevchenko never overextends, Raquel never overextends. They’re both primarily counter strikers, so they look for somebody to make a mistake. They’re great at parrying punches, they have great head movement, they have very technical boxing.”

Tate thinks the outcome of Pennington vs. Peña will come down to will. She pointed to Pennington’s durability, and Peña’s kill attitude, which often leaves her open. Despite Peña’s strong ground game, Tate advises Pennington to be the one on the offensive when it comes to grappling.

“I bet we see Raquel shooting doubles, because I think she would be wise to realize that if (Julianna) gets on top first – anybody’s in trouble under (Julianna),” Tate said. “I honestly think if she gets a good position, she’s going to suck the life out of you there.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Raquel, as she’s becoming more aggressive and more well-rounded, she’s going to try and get on top first so that she hopefully doesn’t have to deal with the onslaught of (Julianna). That’s what I think her mentality would be.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Israel Adesanya thinks ‘stubborn’ UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis beats Sean Strickland again

Israel Adesanya sees UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis’ relentlessness helping him prevail against Sean Strickland.

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] sees UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag]’ relentlessness helping him prevail against [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag].

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) is expected to defend his title against Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) next – the man he dethroned by split decision at UFC 297 to claim the belt. Du Plessis notched his first title defense when he submitted Adesanya in the fourth round at UFC 305. Adesanya, who is coming off back-to-back title losses to Strickland and Du Plessis, shed light on how he thinks a rematch between Du Plessis and Strickland would go.

“They already fought before. I fought both of them,” Adesanya said on “The Adam Carolla Show” “I think Du Plessis might get it done again. He’s just so weird. The way he fights is awkward. He’s stubborn. No matter how tired he gets, he’ll still just throw, just to stop you in your tracks or stop you from doing what you’re doing. And he’ll just throw and hope. It wouldn’t really land, but it would stop what you’re trying to progress.”

Adesanya (24-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) provided an update on his future. He plans on competing soon and will wait to see how the middleweight division shakes out in the next couple of months.

In his first middleweight title reign, Adesanya notched five title defenses until he ran into Alex Pereira at UFC 281. He was able to reclaim his belt with a knockout of Pereira at UFC 287 before dropping two straight to Strickland and Du Plessis.

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