Dricus Du Plessis has shared his reaction to the judges' verdict in the Hamzat Chimaev versus Sean Strickland fight at UFC 328. Before the main event began, Du Plessis recorded a video for UFC's social media in which he predicted that Strickland would win by unanimous decision. Following the actual fight result, Du Plessis appeared particularly pleased with the outcome. Fans have reacted to his prediction, with some joking that he was the happiest person in the arena and others suggesting he "knew something" about how the fight would unfold.
Dricus Du Plessis found himself in a celebratory mood following UFC 328 on May 9, after a pre-fight prediction he recorded for UFC's social media came true when Sean Strickland defeated Hamzat Chimaev by unanimous decision.
Before the main event got underway, Du Plessis filmed a video calling the outcome in Strickland's favor — and when the judges' scorecards confirmed exactly that, the South African made no effort to hide his satisfaction. Fans quickly picked up on his reaction, with some joking he was the happiest person in the arena and others suggesting he had inside knowledge about how the night would play out.
Du Plessis, 32, carries a 23-3-0 record and sits at number two in the middleweight division, with a spot at number seven on the pound-for-pound rankings. Fighting out of Team CIT, the switch-stance South African is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 5.18 significant strikes per minute while also mixing in 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes to keep opponents guessing.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, improved his record to 31-7-0 with the victory. The 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture is known for relentless output, averaging 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and shares the same six-foot-one height and 76-inch reach as Du Plessis — a detail that makes any potential matchup between the two an intriguing physical mirror image.
Why it matters
- Strickland's win keeps the middleweight title in place, with Du Plessis ranked directly behind him at number two.
- Du Plessis's public prediction and visible enthusiasm after the result only intensifies attention on a potential title fight between the two.
- Both men stand six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach, setting up a stylistically close matchup between a high-volume boxer and an aggressive switch-stance finisher.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
