Dricus Du Plessis to attend UFC 328 in Newark for Chimaev vs Strickland

Middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has signaled on social media that he plans to travel to Newark to attend UFC 328 on May 9th, where former champion Sean Strickland steps in against Hamzat Chimaev in a pivotal divisional clash. Du Plessis hinted at "unexpected" encounters at the event, strongly suggesting he will be in attendance to scout his potential next opponent.

Du Plessis, who holds a 23-3-0 record and is ranked second at middleweight and seventh pound-for-pound, brings a well-rounded offensive game to his championship reign. The 32-year-old South African fighting out of Team CIT stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and posts an impressive 5.18 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy, while also averaging 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Strickland enters UFC 328 carrying champion status according to the AgentMMA database, sporting a 31-7-0 record. The 35-year-old American from Xtreme Couture is one of the busiest strikers in the division, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. Standing six-foot-one with a matching 76-inch reach, "Tarzan" operates out of an orthodox stance and relies heavily on his striking volume to control fights.

Why it matters

• Du Plessis's attendance puts a spotlight on the winner as the likely next title challenger
• Both Strickland and the unmentioned Chimaev represent significant stylistic tests for the champion's diverse skill set
• The middleweight division's title picture could become much clearer by the end of fight night
• Du Plessis sharing near-identical physical dimensions with Strickland sets up a fascinating matchup should they meet next