“The Du Plessis vs. Khamzat fight is happening, just not during International Fight Week,” Dana White said at the UFC Kansas City post-fight presser, putting all the rumors of Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev headlining UFC 317 to rest. However, the dream clash is still alive and locked in. It’s one of those fights fans have been dying to see, and once it’s done, the middleweight division could open up big time. A lot of contenders are lurking, and one name that stood out recently is Abus Magomedov with his performance against Michel Pereira at the aforementioned Fight Night event.

Magomedov might not trade barbs with Khamzat Chimaev, but he hasn’t held back when it comes to middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis. The Russian-German made it clear—he’s not a fan of the current 185-pound kingpin. He called Du Plessis an irritating and talentless champion and revealed they almost fought back in their KSW days, but injuries got in the way.

He told Ushatayka in 2023, “I was supposed to fight him in KSW. It didn’t happen because of injuries. I have no idea how that guy ended up where he is. I swear, I can’t understand it. I can understand everything but not that. How? he’s fighting for the title. I think he’s not a fighter at all. He’s not a fighter at all. I can’t even watch him fight. He really irritates me. Even since I had a fight scheduled with him, I have had that bad feeling towards him. He can’t wrestle, he can’t strike properly. I don’t even know what he is.”

The Dagestan native has officially cracked the UFC top 15 rankings, riding the momentum of a three-fight win streak. He now holds the #15 spot in the middleweight division. Following a recent loss, Pereira dropped out of the #14 position, which has since been claimed by Roman Kopylov. It might seem like a small shift on paper, but in a division this competitive, every spot matters. If he keeps this streak alive, a climb toward title contention isn’t out of the question. Whether it’s Du Plessis or Chimaev holding the belt, he could be knocking on that championship door in less than 2 years or so.

Magomedov has shown some promise when he was bursting onto the scene. He destroyed Dustin Stoltzfus in just 19 seconds in 2022, which marked his first victory in the UFC. Since his two losses, which were to be honest against the top middleweights (Sean Strickland and Caio Borralho), he has shown improvements, and with time, he can become a challenge for even the current champion and other contenders.

With that said, let’s play matchmaker for a second. There are plenty of exciting options, but a bout with Brendan Allen feels just right. Both are on solid streaks, and stylistically, it’s fireworks waiting to happen. It’s a fight that makes sense for the division and also can be easily featured in a pay-per-view event.

Abus Magomedov vs. Brendan Allen could be the next move

Abus Magomedov kept it pretty low-key during his post-fight interview at UFC Kansas City. When Paul Felder asked who he wanted to fight next, he didn’t drop any names. Instead, he just thanked Michel Pereira for the fight and said, “Top 15, here I come,” with a smile. Sure, fans were probably hoping he’d call someone out to stir the pot a little, but he kept it respectful. Still, that leaves the door wide open. So here’s a thought: what about a tough American test?

Brendan Allen’s had a bit of a rough ride lately. After an impressive seven-fight win streak, he’s now dropped two in a row, first to Nassourdine Imavov, then to Anthony Hernandez. Not exactly terrible losses, since both guys are legit contenders, but still, a setback. Even so, ‘All In’ managed to hold onto his #11 spot in the middleweight rankings. Right now, he doesn’t have a fight lined up, and that might just open the door for someone like Abus Magomedov to slide in for a high-stakes matchup.

Magomedov showed he’s still got the tools to shut down a creative striker like Michel Pereira. His distance control kept Pereira guessing all night. But Allen would bring a whole different kind of test. He’s a slick grappler with solid control and submission skills, definitely one of the better ones in the division. That kind of pressure could push the Dagestani native in new ways and show if he’s ready for the top dogs. If he passes that test, a matchup with someone like Marvin Vettori will be another very good step up for either one of them.

So, do you think Abus Magomedov is now ready to be a real threat to every middleweight contender? Or does he still need a few standout wins to truly earn that status? Please share your thoughts in the comment box!