UFC champ Dricus Du Plessis downplays Khamzat Chimaev’s strength

UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has little doubt he can match Khamzat Chimaev’s bodily prowess.

Du Plessis (22-2 MMA, 8-0 UFC) turned his consideration to Chimaev (14-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) after the unbeaten contender ran by means of Robert Whittaker for a first-round submission this previous Saturday at UFC 308. Chimaev’s energy and grappling proved to be an excessive amount of as soon as once more, however Du Plessis says “Borz” received’t be capable to impose his will on him.

“Once I combat, I don’t know again up,” Du Plessis instructed TMZ. “I’m going to go on the market and combat you. We’ve seen this with Khamzat, slowing down after the primary spherical, round-and-a-half, and I feel that’s as a result of he makes use of a lot energy.

“He has the wrestling approach, in fact, however he makes use of his energy as a weapon. On this case, he has a gun, and I’ve a tank relating to the energy. There’s not a middleweight that’s going to overpower me. It’s not going to occur.”

Within the UFC 308 post-fight information convention, Chimaev was requested by MMA Junkie about Du Plessis’ grappling, which he instantly dismissed – however the champion issued him a warning.

“If it’s Khamzat, you suppose you’re sturdy, you suppose you’re highly effective, you haven’t felt something,” Du Plessis stated. “And I can’t wait till I see it on his face as a result of I see it on each single particular person I combat’s face. After they notice, ‘Oh sh*t.’ That’s the message.”

Du Plessis additionally defined his resolution of pivoting to Chimaev over a Sean Strickland (29-6 MMA, 16-6 UFC) rematch. Du Plessis claimed the middleweight title by edging out Strickland at UFC 297, a combat Strickland believes he received.

“I utterly welcome the Strickland rematch. I’d like to get that end as a result of for Sean, he wants a win again, I would like a end,” Du Plessis stated. “He doesn’t thoughts to combat boring fights like most of his fights. That’s why he has seven or eight cut up resolution wins. For me, I need to combat a man like Khamzat to throw down. Not say that he’s going to then jab for 5 rounds. Myself and Sean, it was a detailed combat, however there was little doubt in my thoughts that I received that combat. … Strickland simply beat Paulo Costa in a really boring combat as soon as once more, proper after our combat.

“Whether or not it was shut or not, it’s nonetheless a loss. Khamzat, they’ve overestimated this man for therefore lengthy, however he hasn’t come to fruition. He hasn’t misplaced, however the combat cancellations and him being sick. Generally that’s out of our management. However he was the primary man to ever submit Rob, and he did it within the first spherical, and that warrants him leaping the gun on Sean Strickland for me. If you happen to ask me personally, that’s a combat I’d moderately need as a result of that’s a combat the individuals need. It’s a combat extra followers need, and I imagine Khamzat is the subsequent greatest man.”