Dricus Du Plessis is ready to put Khamzat Chimaev’s perfect record to the ultimate test. The reigning UFC middleweight champion will make his third title defense against the unbeaten contender this Saturday, August 16, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Du Plessis rides an impressive 11-fight win streak, with nine of those victories coming inside the UFC. He has only suffered defeat twice in his career, and those losses taught him hard lessons that shaped his mentality and discipline. Chimaev, meanwhile, has faced adversity in a few fights but has never experienced a professional loss in his 14-fight career.
During UFC 319 media day, Du Plessis questioned how Chimaev will react if that undefeated run ends.
“I think after Saturday night, it’s going to be time to go and maybe do some introspection saying ‘how are we approaching this?’ Because I don’t know where he’s at on a mental level,” Du Plessis said. “I know he has a lot of money, as he says. I haven’t checked his bank statements but he says he has a lot of money.”
From his own experience, Du Plessis knows how much a loss can change a fighter.
“I’ve tasted my first loss,” Du Plessis said. “I know what it feels like. It sucks. It really sucks. But that’s where your character comes in. So it’s going to be interesting to see how he gets up from this.”
Chimaev has been respectful in the lead-up to the fight but remains confident, even hinting at winning the title and then fighting again at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on October 25. Du Plessis quickly dismissed that timeline.
“Abu Dhabi’s in October right? No, that’s not happening,” Du Plessis said.
The South African champion remains sure of one thing, as long as he is in the middleweight division, no one will take his belt.
“You know he’s so certain he’s becoming world champion and I’m here to say no. There’s no way you’re becoming world champion while I’m the champion. It’s going to be interesting to see.”
Du Plessis has already passed through some of the toughest names in the sport. He stopped Robert Whittaker, defeated Sean Strickland after he dethroned Israel Adesanya, and then beat Adesanya himself. Chimaev is the latest in a line of challengers billed as his “biggest test to date,” and Du Plessis embraces that.
“I think he’s exactly as good as people think and I know he is this massive task,” Du Plessis said. “So was every other guy in front of me. At this stage where I fought them, they were these massive tasks. Now it’s this guy. After this guy, there will be another guy where people will say ‘this is your biggest test to date.’ Because that’s what happens when you fight the best of the best.
“So yes, this fight is massive. Khamzat is an incredibly good fighter. But what people are going to be saying is the same thing they said after every single one of my fights — he did it again. Can you believe, Dricus did it again. I will not doubt him again. Same old, same old.”
At UFC 319, Du Plessis plans to once again find a way to win — whether that means outgrappling Chimaev or scoring another highlight-reel finish — and walk out of Chicago with his title intact.
