TLDR
- Du Plessis claims his past fight with Khamzat Chimaev “wasn’t a fight” and doesn’t count as a real test
- The UFC champion named Sean Strickland as his toughest opponent after their close title fight in January 2024
- Du Plessis responded to Chimaev’s criticism of his upcoming BMF title fight
- The champion predicts Strickland has “a very good chance” against Chimaev in a potential matchup
- Du Plessis cited Strickland’s pressure, durability, and chin as factors that made him more difficult than Chimaev
Sources: Bloody Elbow | Sherdog | mmafighting.com | Yahoo News Malaysia
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has dismissed his past victory over Khamzat Chimaev, claiming their encounter “wasn’t a fight” and that Sean Strickland proved to be a tougher opponent. The South African fighter made the comments while responding to recent criticism from Chimaev.
Du Plessis and Chimaev fought years ago before either fighter reached the UFC. The bout ended quickly, but Du Plessis now says it doesn’t count as a real test of his skills.
The current champion faced Strickland in January 2024 for the middleweight title. Du Plessis won by split decision in a hard-fought five-round battle that many observers considered extremely close.
Chimaev Criticism Sparks Response
Chimaev recently mocked Du Plessis for his upcoming BMF (Baddest Motherf***er) title fight. The criticism prompted Du Plessis to fire back at the Chechen-born fighter.
Du Plessis defended the BMF title bout and took the opportunity to downplay their previous encounter. He said the fight with Chimaev years ago ended too quickly to serve as a real measure of either fighter’s abilities.
The champion has repeatedly named Strickland as his toughest opponent to date. He pointed to the grueling nature of their five-round championship fight as proof of Strickland’s skills.
Dricus Du Plessis says Sean Strickland and Brad Tavares were his toughest tests, admitting his fight with Khamzat Chimaev didn’t feel like a fight because of the dominance.
(via: fight forecast) pic.twitter.com/kjbp9XOWJA
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) April 6, 2026
Du Plessis Predicts Chimaev vs Strickland
Du Plessis also weighed in on a potential matchup between Chimaev and Strickland. He said Strickland has “a very good chance” against Chimaev if the two ever meet in the octagon.
The champion’s assessment comes from his personal experience fighting both men. He believes Strickland’s durability and pressure would pose serious problems for Chimaev.
Chimaev has steamrolled most of his UFC opponents with dominant wrestling and finishing ability. However, he struggled in his most recent fight against former champion Robert Whittaker, whom he defeated by submission.
Strickland is known for his high-volume striking and ability to maintain a relentless pace for five rounds. He regained momentum after losing the title to Du Plessis by defeating Paulo Costa in June 2024.
Du Plessis explained that Strickland’s style and toughness made their fight more challenging than any other he has experienced. The champion said Strickland’s constant forward pressure and chin made him difficult to deal with over 25 minutes.
The comments from Du Plessis add fuel to ongoing debates about Chimaev’s place in the middleweight division. Chimaev currently holds a high ranking but has not yet fought for the title.
Du Plessis is scheduled to defend his title in an upcoming BMF championship fight. The event will mark his second title defense since capturing the belt from Strickland.
The champion’s assessment of Strickland versus Chimaev suggests he believes his former opponent would be competitive against one of the division’s most feared contenders. Du Plessis has first-hand experience with both fighters’ abilities, giving his opinion extra weight in the MMA community.
