Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis is probably the most quality fight that could be made in the sport right now. We know it’s going to happen soon, but when exactly remains to be announced by the UFC. Many were speculating that their middleweight title clash could take place on the International Fight Week UFC 317 card in late June. However, Dana White recently revealed that the two 185lbs juggernauts are going to collide soon! But not on June 28th.
“We all know that fight’s happening. The du Plessis vs. Khamzat fight it’s happening. It’s just not happening in International Fight Week. That fight’s done.” White said at the UFC Kansas City presser. However, the South African champ is already in camp, with his coach recently claiming that they were preparing for a “ground war” with the shut-out wrestler.
“We want to fight him on the floor. That’s the only way to prove that you’re a real champion….So yeah, we want to fight Khamzat on the floor. That’s the plan.” Visser told Submission Radio. And although Chimaev has mellowed out since the birth of his child the same year, and is no longer the guy who used to scream “I will k–l them all” after fights, he still had a pretty bombastic response to DDP’s coach’s claim.
“Let them prep for war. I’m prepping for m—er,” Chimaev told Adam Zubayraev. But Du Plessis just finds the whole thing comical, laughing off Chimaev’s ‘threat’ in his inimitable, unflappable manner. “ Wow, that’s the first time I’ve heard that one. Shakespeare in the house,” Du Plessis wrote on Instagram. All of this, of course, is only adding to the hype of their already electrifying matchup.
Chimaev will surprise almost everyone if he doesn’t come out looking to take the fight to the ground from the first bell. This is the same guy, after all, who took down Robert Whittaker and broke his teeth en route to a submission victory in their UFC 308 clash last year. This is why ‘DDP’ and his team are rightfully preparing for a ‘ground war’. And a middleweight star who has experience against both men thinks one of them has a decided advantage in their clash.
Reinier de Ridder predicts who has the edge in the Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev clash
Reiner de Ridder looked like a future title contender as he demolished Bo Nickal in their UFC Des Moines clash last weekend. That is why the Dutch former ONE Championship double champ is looking keenly at the top of the division, and even shared his thoughts on the matchup in a recent interview.
“I’ve had some experience with both of the guys. I’ve trained with both of them. I’d say, especially in a five-round fight, Khamzat is most likely going to come out guns blazing again, shoot right away, but Dricus is not that easy to take down. He moves very well, although it looks a bit funny at times. His footwork is not that bad. He gets out. He circles pretty well. I don’t see Khamzat taking him down right away, and to be honest, I don’t see Khamzat choking him out in the first round,” ‘RDR’ said.
Indeed, Chimaev starts very strong and throws the kitchen sink at his opponents as soon as the fight starts. But that does mean that he tends to gas out in the latter rounds, as was clear in his UFC 294 clash against Kamaru Usman. Du Plessis, on the other hand, along with being utterly unpredictable, is an unstoppable workhorse who just keeps on going, following up offense with more offense, followed by even more offense. And that is precisely why the Dutchman thinks the South African has the advantage going into their clash.
“Every round he doesn’t choke him out is going to get worse for him. Because with that unorthodox style of Dricus and those heavy hands, I think it might be a long night for Khamzat. He keeps going. That’s the crazy thing. He looks dead tired, the technique [just goes out the door] but somehow he stays strong, stays very explosive. I’m going with Dricus, but Khamzat would be cool, too, if it gets it. But I think Dricus has a good chance,” he said. What do you think about Dricus Du Plessis’ response to Khamzat Chimaev’s ‘threat’?
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