Dricus Du Plessis shared his prediction for a potential fight between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev, giving Strickland very good chances to win. Du Plessis believes that once Chimaev is forced to fight in Strickland's grinding style, he will struggle significantly. The South African champion's assessment carries weight as he has fought both men. Du Plessis stated he doesn't think Chimaev would have a chance if forced into Strickland's pace and approach.
Middleweight champion Sean Strickland would give Khamzat Chimaev serious problems if the two were ever matched up, according to former titleholder Dricus Du Plessis, who shared his assessment publicly on May 6.
Du Plessis speaks from a rare position of authority on the subject — the 32-year-old South African has shared the cage with both men. Now ranked second in the middleweight division and seventh pound-for-pound, Du Plessis carries a 23-3 record and has established himself as one of the most complete fighters in the 185-pound class. He lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute and supplements his striking with a respectable 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a broad frame of reference when evaluating how styles mesh at this level.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, owns a 31-7 record and is among the busiest strikers in the division, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute. The 35-year-old from the United States is known for relentless forward pressure and a grinding, high-volume approach that has worn down opponents throughout his career.
Chimaev, ranked first in the division and tenth pound-for-pound, presents a contrasting profile. The 32-year-old fighting out of the United Arab Emirates owns a 15-1 record and is a dominant grappler, averaging an exceptional 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes with a 60 percent striking accuracy. Du Plessis, however, argued that once Chimaev is forced to operate in Strickland's rhythm — absorbed in a grinding, attritional war on the feet — he would struggle significantly and, in Du Plessis's view, would have little chance.
Why it matters
- Strickland and Chimaev are the top two-ranked middleweights, making any potential matchup between them a title-eliminator or championship fight scenario.
- Du Plessis's firsthand experience against both men lends unusual credibility to his stylistic breakdown.
- The contrast between Chimaev's grappling-heavy approach and Strickland's grinding striking pace represents one of the more compelling style clashes the division could produce.
