Dricus Du Plessis has silenced the doubters and proven that his unorthodox style—once dismissed as reckless—was anything but what people thought. The South African champion has come a long way from being mocked for his mythical ‘plot armor’ to standing tall as the undisputed king at 185 pounds. Fresh off a grueling victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 312, where he cemented his status as the best middleweight on the planet, ‘Stillknocks’ is now setting his sights on even loftier challenges.

Not only has Du Plessis dominated former middleweight champions in four consecutive fights, but he’s also eyeing a showdown with Khamzat Chimaev. On top of that, he has expressed interest in moving up a weight class and taking on 205lbs god-king Alex Pereira. After his UFC 312 title rematch, the 185lbs kingpin challenged the light heavyweight champion in Strickland’s corner, quoting the film Troy and shouting “Is there no one else?”

He carried the same sentiment during the post-fight presser. “I have the world’s respect for Alex Pereira,” Du Plessis said. “I think he is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and I have the most respect for him, what he’s done in a short period of time in the UFC, to come from another sport, what he’s done there, but yes, want to share the Octagon with that man. I want to beat a guy — I have beaten [Israel] Adesanya, who has beaten him. I know I can beat him and at 205 [pounds]. One hundred percent.”

However, the Brazilian had a blunt response to the idea. According to Daniel Cormier, ‘Poatan’ didn’t mince words when the topic came up backstage after the PPV in the land down under. “I told Pereira after the fight, I go, ‘He wants you, Pereira.’ Pereira goes, ‘He’s just too small.” DC quipped. However, not everyone agrees with Pereira’s assessment. Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman weighed in on his Pound 4 Pound podcast with Henry Cejudo, arguing that size isn’t everything.

“I don’t think there is such a thing as ‘too small’ because technique can negate size and strength. I don’t believe there is such a thing, you’re right,” Usman said. However, he also suggested that Du Plessis might not be the man to dethrone Pereira. “But Henry, I don’t—I just… ship sailed on somebody that comes in that I think is beating Alex Pereira right now. Honestly, I don’t know! I do give this. I think DDP is more well-rounded for sure and he’s got some wrestling. He can choke you but that pin-point striking of Alex Pereira…I wouldn’t wanna see that for DDP just yet.”

And we have to agree with what the former 170lbs champ stated. Technical mastery has repeatedly proven to be the great equalizer against sheer physical advantages. Few exemplify this better than Demetrious Johnson. Standing just 5’3″, Johnson turned speed, footwork, and timing into weapons that dismantled larger opponents. His unforgettable “Mighty Whizbar” was a breathtaking suplex-to-armbar submission against Ray Borg. And remains one of the most technically brilliant finishes in UFC history.

Long before Johnson, MMA pioneer and UFC 1 tournament winner Royce Gracie revolutionized the sport. The Brazilian proved that technique could conquer size. A lanky 170-pound guy in a gi conquered killers with his mastery of BJJ and systematically broke them down, forever changing the landscape of MMA.

Even in the heavyweight division, where size is often seen as an insurmountable advantage, Daniel Cormier shattered that notion. At 5’11”, often undersized against towering opponents, Cormier relied on his Olympic wrestling, and crisp boxing to defeat elite heavyweights—including a knockout win over Stipe Miocic, the most accomplished heavyweight champion in UFC history.

Perhaps the most poetic example of technique triumphing oversize is Lyoto Machida. During his 205lbs title reign, dubbed the ‘Machida era’ by Joe Rogan, this short stint embodied the essence of traditional martial arts. He moved like water around larger opponents and his elusive, karate-based style frustrated even the most physically imposing fighters. This made them swing at shadows while he delivered precise, devastating counterattacks.

Now back to 2025! Du Plessis has been calling out anyone and everyone following his standout performance in Australia. However, UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that Khamzat Chimaev could be next in line for the champ. While Du Plessis seems confident in his ability to handle ‘Borz’, not everyone shares his optimism. AKA head coach Javier Mendez believes the middleweight champ is making a serious mistake by underestimating Chimaev.

Team Khabib’s head coach gives Dricus Du Plessis a fair warning against Chimaev

There’s no denying that Dricus Du Plessis has been making waves with his relentless pace and unorthodox fighting style. However, stepping into the Octagon with Khamzat Chimaev is an entirely different challenge. While many believe the key to beating Alex Pereira lies in exploiting his ground game, ‘Borz’ presents a unique puzzle that Du Plessis must solve.

Coach Javier Mendez weighed in on the matchup, highlighting just how dangerous Chimaev is. “If Du Plessis is next in line, he better be ready for what Chimaev brings. If he thinks he can stop the fight from going to the ground, then fine—but that’s a huge if. Chimaev’s grappling is on another level, and anyone stepping in there with him needs to be prepared for that,” Mendez explained.

He continued, “In my opinion, taking on Chimaev is a tougher fight. Pereira is a killer on the feet. But Du Plessis has a better chance against him if the fight goes to the ground.” Chimaev’s ability to shoot for a takedown with lightning speed makes him one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the division.

He displayed that explosiveness against Robert Whittaker. And if he brings in his signature “grinding” against Du Plessis, it could be a grueling test for the champ. Will ‘Stillknocks’ prove the doubters wrong, or will ‘Borz’ make a statement? Or will we get a super fight involving Alex Pereira? Share your predictions in the comments below!