Dricus Du Plessis made it crystal clear at the post-UFC 312 presser: he believes Khamzat Chimaev is next. Of course, there is also the prospect that Nassordine Imavov, coming off a fantastic win over Israel Adesanya, could be in line for the 185lbs title shot. But ‘DDP’ doesn’t think so.

“It doesn’t matter what I think, we all know what’s going to happen,” Du Plessis said when asked what he thinks of Imavov being next. “What do you think makes more money? Me and Khamzat or me and Imavov?” the middleweight champion asked, laughing.

And this has ticked off the Dagestan-born fighter. “That’s what the @ufc is all about, allow the best to become champ, no matter their fame, you’re a good example of that. You took advantage of it and now you’re closing the door. Khamzat is a superstar, he’ll sell against anyone. Him or me, your time’s coming @dricusduplessis,” Imavov wrote ominously on X.

But Imavov is perhaps being a bit unfair to ‘DDP’. The champ didn’t say he didn’t want to fight Imavov before Chimaev. No. In fact, what the South African was saying is that a Du Plessis-Chimaev clash would make too much money for the UFC to do anything else next. ‘DDP’ put the blame, if you can call it that, firmly on Dana White and Co.’s shoulders.

On the other hand, some feel that an Imavov-Chimaev official #1 title contender bout may also be a possibility. However, that probably won’t be the case since it’s in the UFC’s financial interest that their incredibly popular next golden goose, Chimaev, fights for the title as soon as possible. This is precisely why we think even Alex Pereira probably won’t get to fight Du Plessis next.

Alex Pereira and Dricus Du Plessis agree to light heavyweight super-fight

According to UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, Dricus Du Plessis has agreed to fight him next- at light heavyweight. Pereira apparently walked up to ‘DDP’ after UFC 312 and challenged him. To which the South African had a definitive answer: “Deal”. And with both Pereira and Du Plessis agreeing, this fight is as good as done, right? No. far from it.

First of all, there is ‘Poatan’s upcoming UFC 313 clash against Magomed Ankalaev. Needless to say, the Brazilian needs to win that before he even thinks about fighting Du Plessis. But more importantly, the UFC will not be in favor of Pereira-Du Plessis because of the same reason Imavov won’t get a title shot next- Chimaev is next in line.

Pereira may be the UFC’s biggest superstar at the moment. But the Brazilian champ is 37 and approaching the end of his rope. And the UFC, first and foremost, is a business. It just makes too much financial sense for ‘Borz’ to get the middleweight title shot next to not do it. What do you think about Nassourdine Imavov’s comments aimed at Dricus Du Plessis?