Dricus Du Plessis believes Sean Strickland has very good chances to defeat Khamzat Chimaev in their upcoming fight. Du Plessis stated that once Chimaev is forced to fight in Strickland's style, he doesn't think Chimaev will have much of a chance. Du Plessis's perspective carries weight as he has fought both Chimaev and Strickland in the past, giving him firsthand experience with both fighters' styles. His comments suggest he sees stylistic advantages for Strickland in the matchup.
Dricus Du Plessis has gone on record backing middleweight champion Sean Strickland to beat Khamzat Chimaev in their upcoming bout, arguing that the stylistic dynamics of the fight heavily favor "Tarzan."
Du Plessis, who holds a 23-3 record and sits at number two in the middleweight division and seventh in the pound-for-pound rankings, offered a perspective few others can match. The 32-year-old South African out of Team CIT has shared the cage with both men, giving him direct knowledge of how each fighter operates. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, Du Plessis lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute and averages 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a credible analyst of the technical puzzle this matchup presents. His core argument is straightforward: once Chimaev is pulled into Strickland's world, he does not believe "Borz" will have much of a chance.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion at 31-7, brings relentless forward pressure and a volume striking game that has defined his rise. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture leads the division in significant strikes landed per minute at 6.04, albeit at a 42 percent accuracy rate. His grappling output is limited, averaging just 0.71 takedowns per 15 minutes, meaning his path to victory runs almost entirely through a sustained striking war.
Chimaev, ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, carries a 15-1 record and represents the division's most dangerous grappler. The 32-year-old averages an imposing 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempts 1.8 submissions in the same window, with a striking accuracy of 60 percent. Whether he can impose that wrestling-heavy game against Strickland's pressure is precisely the question Du Plessis appears to be answering in the champion's favor.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis has firsthand experience against both fighters, lending credibility to his stylistic breakdown
- The middleweight title is held by Strickland, making this a championship fight with major divisional consequences
- Chimaev's elite grappling versus Strickland's high-volume striking creates a clear and compelling style clash
