The UFC’s middleweight division is waiting to see two dominant forces ready to turn the Octagon into their personal hunting ground. Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev—a matchup that, if finalized, would be nothing short of an all-out war. With Dana White already confirming that ‘Borz’ is next in line for a title shot, anticipation is at an all-time high. Chimaev’s suffocating ground game has been his deadliest weapon, but the big question remains—how will DDP, a powerhouse striker, and accomplished grappler in his own right—handle the relentless pressure of an elite wrestler like Chimaev?

Many experts have already started to come up with certain predictions for the clash. Now welterweight champion Belal Muhammad has also come up with his own thought process. ‘Remember the Name’ has shown his interest in making a move to the middleweight division in order to become a dual champion. Even before making the move, there is no love lost between him and the champion. The pair has already been involved in a lot of back-and-forths on social media. According to ‘Bully B’ the middleweight division is one of the easiest in the UFC with only Khamzat Chimaev as the legitimate fighter.

His comments didn’t quite go well with ‘Stillknocks’ who reminded him about the size difference between the two. Their battle has now taken a new turn after Muhammad’s latest comments. While speaking on MMA Junkie, show the 38-year-old made it clear that he doesn’t fear the champion at all. He said, “Bro, I would literally take his shots, eat them, and then walk through them”. However, he then made it clear that Du Plessis has no chance against Chimaev if they ever take on each other in the division. Even if he loses the title, Muhammad is willing to fight Du Plessis just to settle their battle and maybe teach him a lesson.

He further added, “He got a tough test in front of him with Khamzat. I don’t think he’s gonna get past Khamzat. But maybe I still go up there anyway to smack him around right?”

Dricus Du Plessis is without a doubt one of the most underrated fighters in the division. Often labeled as unorthodox, the South African champion has proved to the world why he is the best in the business. So far, he’s beaten three former divisional champions, one of them twice. It would be criminal to deny his greatness.

However, with Khamzat Chimaev next in line, many feel his time as champion might just come to an end. But a former opponent of both ‘Borz’ and ‘Stillknocks’ doesn’t quite feel the same.

Robert Whittaker warns Chimaev about the possible threats of Du Plessis

Dricus Du Plessis, who is known for his explosive striking style, is yet to be truly tested against a grappler of Chimaev’s caliber. While ‘Borz’ carries an aura of invincibility, no fighter is without flaws. Every warrior has tells—subtle weaknesses that, if exploited correctly, could be the key to bringing them down. The question is, can Du Plessis find those openings and turn the tide against one of the most dominant wrestlers in the division?

Robert Whittaker, the former 185lbs kingpin who has faced both these fighters knows exactly what needs to be done. During a recent conversation on the ‘Submission Radio’ show, he pointed out how the fight might be different for both fighters.

He said, “I can’t see anyone stopping Chimaev’s takedowns. His takedowns are so hard to stop. I mean his wrestling and his grappling is just yeah, it’s super high-level. I guess the question always comes in like, can DDP be dragged into those later rounds? Can he get through the first wrestling? Grappling exchanges? And then start to capitalize on his just like persistence. Like doggedness to go away ’cause because honestly, if Chimaev can’t get DDP out of there, DDP wins like; DDP wins almost every fight. You can’t get rid of him, right?” 

So the bottom line is the champion just needs to get past the first round in order to defend his title. However, we all know that facing a fully fit Khamzat Chimaev can never be an easy task. Who do you think wins the fight between these two? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.