TLDR
- Du Plessis coach Morne Visser blames referee Marc Goddard for not standing up the fight during the August UFC 319 loss to Khamzat Chimaev
- Visser admits the team was unprepared for Chimaev’s wrestling-heavy ‘lay-and-pray’ strategy
- The coach had called Chimaev ‘one-dimensional’ before the fight but Du Plessis spent most of the bout on his back
- Visser promises aggressive changes and vows Chimaev will get ‘f—ed up’ in a potential rematch
- Du Plessis’ path back to title contention is unclear as Chimaev prepares to face Nassourdine Imavov next
Sources: Bloody Elbow | Yardbarker | Fight Forecast
Dricus Du Plessis’ head coach is still dwelling on his fighter’s loss to Khamzat Chimaev months after the bout took place. Morne Visser has now placed blame on veteran referee Marc Goddard for the outcome at UFC 319.
The fight happened on August 16, with Du Plessis suffering a one-sided defeat against Chimaev in the main event. Du Plessis spent much of the fight on his back, unable to match Chimaev’s wrestling ability.
Visser had called Chimaev “one-dimensional” before the fight and claimed Du Plessis would beat him at his own game. Those predictions did not come true.
Coach Says Referee Failed to Stand Up Fight
In an interview with Fight Forecast, Visser criticized both Chimaev’s fighting style and Goddard’s officiating. He said the team was not prepared for a fighter who was “not willing to fight.”
“If we knew he was gonna do that, I would’ve changed Dricus’ base, no punches, no kicks, just wrestle the guy and Dricus is good enough to do that,” Visser said. He claimed Chimaev “never wanted to fight” when he kept Du Plessis on the floor.
Dricus du Plessis says he was 'bored' in his title loss to Khamzat Chimaev at #UFC 319. 👀 🤔 😮 pic.twitter.com/RJAuwFF64f
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) January 20, 2026
Visser argued that Goddard “should’ve stood that fight up many times.” The coach described Chimaev’s approach as a “lay-and-pray” style that he says they were unprepared for.
The South African fighter has not been very active in discussing his return to the cage since the loss. There has been some talk about whether Du Plessis should switch weight classes instead of pursuing another fight with Chimaev.
Team Promises Aggressive Changes for Rematch
Despite the loss, Visser is confident about a potential rematch. He says the team has already begun making adjustments to counter Chimaev’s wrestling-focused game plan.
“We’ve learned a hell of a lot,” Visser said. “This time around, he’s gonna get f—ed up.”
The coach insists Du Plessis has advantages in standup striking and clinch work. “He’s got zero chance against Dricus in the standup, he’s got zero chance against Dricus in the clinch, his only chance is to keep us on the floor, so that’s the only thing we need to fix,” Visser explained.
The middleweight title picture has moved forward since the August fight. Chimaev is expected to face Nassourdine Imavov in his next bout.
Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez are scheduled to fight in just over a month. The winner of that bout is expected to face whoever wins the Chimaev vs Imavov matchup.
This timeline narrows Du Plessis’ options for his next step back toward title contention. One potential matchup mentioned is Brendan Allen, who has put together back-to-back wins over Marvin Vettori and Reinier De Ridder.
Du Plessis is not close to another title shot at this time. The team continues to work on wrestling adjustments while waiting for their next opportunity.
