With UFC 312 now in the books, fans have shifted their focus to a potential blockbuster showdown in the middleweight division—reigning champion Dricus Du Plessis versus undefeated juggernaut Khamzat Chimaev. In case you are living under a rock, ‘Stillknocks’ once again proved his dominance by successfully registering a second 185lbs title defense in a hard-fought battle at the Qudos Bank Arena in Australia. The South African earned a unanimous decision victory over former champion Sean Strickland, further cementing his place at the top.
Despite the win, du Plessis made it clear he has no plans to slow down. During the post-fight press conference, he addressed speculation about a possible move to light heavyweight to challenge Alex Pereira. While he acknowledged Pereira’s rapid success, stating, “What he’s done in such a short period of time in the UFC deserves respect,” his immediate focus lies elsewhere. Rather than eyeing a new division, ‘Stillknocks’ set his sights on a nigh unstoppable force in his weight class.
Expressing his eagerness to face Chimaev, he declared, “I want to share the Octagon with that man. I want to beat that guy. I’ve beaten Adesanya…But Khamzat is next. Khamzat is next.” Many fans and analysts question whether Du Plessis has what it takes to stop Khamzat Chimaev, but UFC veteran Daniel Cormier believes he might be the toughest challenge ‘Borz’ has ever faced.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, ‘DC’ issued a warning to Chimaev about the South African champion, saying, “Khamzat Chimaev is problem number one. But watching Dricus today, I don’t know if Chimaev just drives across the mat and takes him down. He’s so good at what he does. He’s the man! Dricus Du Plessis is the man, and once again, he proved that it’s going to be very difficult to take the belt off him. I know Chimaev has a massive following, and people like him—he’s been dominant—but I just don’t know if he’s ever faced anyone like Dricus Du Plessis.”
Khamzat Chimaev at the UFC 308 pre-fight press conference
Chimaev cemented his place in the title picture last October at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi. In the co-main event, he dominated Robert Whittaker from the opening bell, dragging him into deep waters within a single round. Utilizing his relentless grappling, the Chechnya native locked in a brutal submission that forced ‘The Reaper’ into an immediate tap, his lower teeth being driven into his jaw from the sheer pressure.
The bout marked ‘Borz’s’ 14th straight win and propelled him 10 spots up the middleweight rankings to claim the #3 position—firmly establishing him as the next title challenger. But if these two elite middleweights collide, how would the fight play out? Let’s dive into a prediction from UFC commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan.
Joe Rogan predicts the Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis showdown
Joe Rogan, like the fans, can hardly contain his excitement for the highly anticipated middleweight showdown between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev. Though Rogan wasn’t in Australia for UFC 312, he made sure not to miss a second of the action, watching the event from home. Historically, a supporter of ‘Borz’, Rogan, much like Daniel Cormier, was left speechless by ‘Stillknocks’ stunning performance against Sean Strickland. With scorecards reading 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46, Du Plessis pulled off an absolute masterclass in the land down under.
On his latest podcast, Rogan analyzed how a potential fight between Du Plessis and Chimaev might unfold, focusing on their differing wrestling techniques. “It’s hard to say. We don’t know what would happen with Khamzat,” Rogan explained. “Khamzat just shoots from like 15 feet away and gets a hold of your legs so quick. You’ve got to think that his endurance is probably going to be better at 185 than it was at 170 because of the weight cut. 185 is really where he should have been all along.”
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With the Chechnya native now set as the next title challenger, the middleweight division remains as unpredictable as ever. Earlier this month, Nassourdine Imavov also made a statement with a stunning knockout victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC Saudi Arabia, putting himself in the title picture as well.
Many fans are now debating whether Imavov deserves the next shot at Du Plessis, or if Chimaev is the rightful challenger. Who do you think ‘Stillknocks’ should defend his title against next? Share your thoughts below!
The post Daniel Cormier Spells Serious Trouble for Khamzat Chimaev in Confession on Dricus Du Plessis After UFC 312 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
