UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has hinted on social media that he is heading to Newark for UFC 328 this weekend. The South African titleholder will be in attendance to watch the main event clash between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland. His presence ringside suggests he is scouting his potential next challenger, as the winner is expected to earn a title shot. Du Plessis teased the possibility of "unexpected meetings" at the event.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis has signaled he will be in Newark this weekend for UFC 328, hinting on social media that he plans to watch the main event between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland in person. The South African titleholder also teased the possibility of "unexpected meetings" at the event, adding intrigue to his ringside presence.
Du Plessis, 32, holds a 23-3-0 record and is currently ranked second in the middleweight division and seventh pound-for-pound. Fighting out of Team CIT, the six-foot-one switch-stance fighter carries a 76-inch reach and has been one of the division's most active strikers, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also averages 2.22 takedowns per fifteen minutes, making him a well-rounded threat.
Chimaev enters UFC 328 as the top-ranked middleweight and tenth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 32-year-old, representing the United Arab Emirates and Allstars Training Center, owns a 15-1-0 record and is one of the most dominant grapplers in the sport, averaging 5.29 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside a 60 percent striking accuracy. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, "Borz" is a physically imposing presence at 185 pounds.
Strickland, the current middleweight champion, brings a 31-7-0 record and unrelenting forward pressure to Saturday's contest. The 35-year-old from Xtreme Couture is among the division's highest-volume strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute. The six-foot-one orthodox fighter shares Du Plessis's 76-inch reach and has built his reputation on smothering, relentless boxing.
Why it matters
- The winner of Chimaev vs. Strickland is expected to earn the next middleweight title shot, making Du Plessis's scouting mission directly relevant to his future.
- Chimaev is ranked first and Du Plessis second, meaning a potential matchup would pit the two highest-ranked middleweights against the champion.
- Du Plessis's hint at "unexpected meetings" leaves open the possibility of a face-to-face confrontation that could accelerate title fight negotiations.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
