All articles tagged with #dricus du plessis
Two former UFC champions, Dricus Du Plessis and Kamaru Usman, collide in the UFC Oklahoma City headliner for Fight Night 281 at the Paycom Center, airing on Paramount+. Du Plessis, a former middleweight king, hasn’t fought since last August when he relinquished the title to Khamzat Chimaev, while Usman hasn’t competed since June, returning in a marquee matchup that pits a middleweight contender against a longtime welterweight champ.
UFC announced Dricus du Plessis will face former champion Kamaru Usman in the main event of UFC Oklahoma City on July 18 at the Paycom Center. Usman is moving up to 185 pounds to pursue a second title, while Du Plessis returns to action after losing the middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev. The event marks UFC’s first in Oklahoma City in nearly a decade.
Brendan Allen says a planned bout with former middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis fell through due to injuries and shifting schedules, so he instead headlines UFC Vegas 118 in a co-main against Edmen Shahbazyan. He says he asked for Usman and other opponents, felt ‘finessed’ by the process, and chose to fight now to make money and showcase his skills, aiming to pressure Shahbazyan and win wherever the fight goes.
Du Plessis dismissed Khamzat Chimaev's weight-cut excuses after UFC 328, arguing that a 12-pound cut in 24 hours isn't catastrophic and that blaming a weight cut won't excuse a loss; he praised Strickland's performance, questioned a quick rematch for Chimaev, and noted uncertainty about Chimaev's next move (including a possible move to 205).
Dricus du Plessis dismissed Khamzat Chimaev's post-fight weight-cut excuse after Chimaev's split-decision loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328, saying there are no excuses in the Octagon and urging fighters to take responsibility rather than blame a cut for the defeat.
Sean Strickland defeated Khamzat Chimaev by decision to reclaim the middleweight title at UFC 328, a result that led Dricus du Plessis—who has beaten Strickland twice—to proclaim he is “world champion again” and to tease a potential return; Strickland’s next title defense against Nassourdine Imavov is expected later this year, with Du Plessis eyeing a possible clash with Kamaru Usman.
Dricus du Plessis believes Khamzat Chimaev should stay in his weight class and not move up to fight Alex Pereira, asserting that Pereira is a top-tier fighter who would be difficult for Chimaev to beat, especially given Pereira's size and skill.
Dricus du Plessis, after losing his UFC title to Khamzat Chimaev, has publicly expressed his acceptance of the defeat, credited his opponent's performance, and vowed to return stronger, emphasizing his commitment to growth and resilience in his career.
Dricus du Plessis plans to take 12 to 16 weeks to improve his wrestling defense after losing his UFC middleweight title shot at UFC 319, aiming to return early next year. His focus is solely on fixing this specific issue, not fitness or stand-up skills, and he is expected to be back in the cage in early 2026.
After suffering a decisive loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, UFC legend Quinton Jackson advised Dricus du Plessis to consider moving down a weight class instead of pursuing a rematch, as his current division may not be the best fit following the defeat.
Dricus du Plessis, after a decisive loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, is considering his next fight, with former contender Dan Hardy suggesting Anthony Hernandez as a suitable opponent to test his skills post-title loss. Hernandez, on an eight-fight winning streak, has expressed interest in fighting Chimaev, aiming to prove himself in the UFC middleweight division.
Khamzat Chimaev dominated Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 but didn't finish him, with Kamaru Usman suggesting Chimaev intentionally held back to conserve energy for future fights, as he is considering his next opponent among top middleweights.
Khamzat Chimaev won a dominant decision victory at UFC 319, but former middleweight contender Marvin Vettori controversially claimed du Plessis was robbed, sparking mixed reactions from fans. Vettori, currently on a losing streak, expressed his opinion despite widespread consensus of Chimaev's dominance.
Khamzat Chimaev dominated Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319, with his coach criticizing du Plessis's ground preparation and suggesting the responsible coach should be fired. Chimaev set a UFC record with 529 strikes and nearly broke another control time record, showcasing his dominance in the fight.
Khamzat Chimaev won the UFC middleweight title from Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 with a unanimous decision, joining an elite group of undefeated champions and sparking excitement in the MMA community.