Dricus Du Plessis has cemented his position as the undisputed middleweight champion following his victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 312. However, his work is far from over. The biggest concern in the UFC middleweight division right now is whether he can beat the undefeated phenom that is Khamzat Chimaev. While fans are looking forward to the inevitable clash, UFC analyst Din Thomas feels ‘Borz’ may not be as deadly as many think when it comes to championship fights.

Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Din Thomas pointed out a significant weakness in Chimaev’s style that might cost him dearly against a fighter like Du Plessis: his inability to maintain a high tempo for five complete rounds. He said, “Khamzat is a sprinter… You can’t fight championship-level fights for five rounds at the pace where he’s at his best.” The former MMA fighter further explained, “I think Dricus is so durable and he’s so smart that he’ll be able to withstand that. Now they’re swimming in deep water, and Khamzat can’t swim that deep.”

His statements brought back the debate about Chimaev’s cardio, particularly during his fight against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294, in which the Chechen slowed down significantly after a dominant first round. His statements brought back the debate about Chimaev’s cardio, particularly during his fight against Kamaru Usman at UFC 294, in which the Chechen slowed down significantly after a dominant first round. Du Plessis, on the other hand, has proven that he thrives in prolonged, exhausting fights.

His unrelenting pressure on Israel Adesanya at UFC 297 and calculated performance versus Strickland at UFC 312 demonstrated his ability to keep a high output well into the latter rounds. His team has made a point of improving his endurance, creating a fight strategy that allows him to push the pace without burning himself out. However, for now, the official fight announcement has yet to be made. But from the looks of it, Dricus Du Plessis seems to be enjoying the title of the favorite in this matchup. In fact, he even believes that he has the strategy to win the fight.

Dricus Du Plessis reveals the technique to defeat Khamzat Chimaev

Although Khamzat Chimaev is widely regarded as one of the UFC’s most dangerous grapplers, Dricus Du Plessis is unconvinced that ‘Borz’ can dethrone him. While Chimaev’s wrestling-heavy strategy has dominated the majority of his opponents, Du Plessis believes his well-rounded skill set will give him an advantage in their fight. According to ‘Stillknocks, MMA is about how everything works together, and he believes he is the greatest at it.

After all, the South African fighter is no stranger to grappling. In 2021, he competed in a quintet-style grappling tournament, defeating five members of Team Gracie Barra and demonstrating his ability to hold his own on the ground. But despite being a great grappler, he quickly reminded everyone that this is not a grappling contest but an MMA fight. During an interview with ESPN MMA, he said, “Khamzat is an incredible fighter. Nobody has been able to beat him. But he hasn’t fought anybody of note other than Robert Whittaker. That is it.”

Despite Chimaev’s stunning submission victory over Robert Whittaker at UFC 308, Du Plessis remains unaffected. “This is not a grappling competition. I am not the best grappler or wrestler or striker. When we mix it all up, I am. That’s why I have this,” he said, referring to his UFC middleweight belt. Confident in his cardio, durability, and ability to pull Chimaev into deep water, ‘Stillknocks’ is ready to demonstrate why he is the division’s genuine king. What do you think? Do you believe ‘Borz’ would be able to dethrone Du Plessis? Let us know in the comments.