UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis knows that Khamzat Chimaev‘s grappling is some of the best in the sport. Ahead of their UFC 319 headliner, however, DDP wants Chimaev to know that on Aug. 16, the two won’t be competing in a grappling match.
During an appearance on Fox 32 Chicago this week, Du Plessis praised the undefeated contender’s grappling before firing off a warning:
“Khamzat [is] obviously world-class in wrestling and grappling, but at this level of the sport, everybody is world-class. This is not grappling or wrestling; this is MMA. … We’re not fighting for the wrestling title, we’re not fighting for the grappling title, we are fighting for the UFC title, and that’s where I’m the best.
“I’m not the best wrestler, the best grappler, or the best striker, but when you put all of those things together, if you combine it, and that’s the sport we do, I’m the best in the world.”
You can view his full comments in the video below, starting at the 2:55 mark.
Throughout his career, Chimaev has taken down every opponent he’s faced inside the Octagon with the exception of Gerald Meerschaert, whom he knocked out in just 17 seconds.
Du Plessis Talks High-Stakes Bout Against Chimaev
Since defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297 and becoming champion, Dricus Du Plessis has continued to impress, securing a fourth-round submission win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305, and, most recently, a convincing decision win over Strickland.
Despite that, the champ has his sights set on not only getting a win over Khamzat Chimaev on Aug. 16, but also improving on his UFC 312 performance against Strickland:
“Pressure is such a big part of the game. If you don’t feel any pressure you don’t care enough. For me the pressure comes from me putting a high expectation for myself. Going out there and defending my belt, going back home without it is not an option for me. The pressure is there to not only to win but to perform to the best of my abilities and being better than my previous outing.”
At the time of publication, Du Plessis is sitting as a slight +154 underdog on FanDuel, while Chimaev is a -200 favorite.
Khabib Nurmagomedov & Belal Muhammad Offer Surprising Takes on Dricus Du Plessis’ Fight With Khamzat Chimaev
While many fight fans are confident that Chimaev’s best chance of emerging victorious at UFC 319 is securing an early submission, both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Belal Muhammad think that Borz needs to rely on his striking early on instead of aggressively pursuing takedowns from the get-go.
During a recent appearance on The Hustle Show, the Hall of Famer and former lightweight kingpin explained:
“You can try to force things early, but if you don’t finish him, you’ll burn a lot of energy. You’ll need it in the championship rounds, and Khamzat hasn’t been to the championship rounds. Personally, I would advise Khamzat to strike with him. If you put them straight boxing, Khamzat is better.”
Belal Muhammad then echoed a similar sentiment during a UFC 319 prediction video for his YouTube channel, saying that although Du Plessis has a chin, his awkward striking style may not hold up well against Chimaev’s, quote, “cleaner” striking.
With fight night rapidly approaching, it’ll be interesting to see how things play out.
Dricus Du Plessis Issues Warning to Khamzat Chimaev Ahead of UFC 319 Clash