Dricus du Plessis has criticized Khamzat Chimaev's weight cut complaints following his loss to Sean Strickland, suggesting the Chechen fighter is making excuses. The South African middleweight champion stated that the weight cut wasn't that severe and that fighters need to be more disciplined to manage the process better. Du Plessis claimed from personal experience that he has cut more weight himself and that proper discipline makes weight cutting easier. The comments add to ongoing discussion about Chimaev's middleweight debut performance and the factors that may have affected his showing against Strickland. Du Plessis's physical frame lends some credibility to his claim about having experienced larger weight cuts.
Dricus du Plessis has publicly dismissed Khamzat Chimaev's weight cut grievances, telling the Chechen contender that discipline, not the scale, was the real issue in his loss to Sean Strickland.
Du Plessis, the number-two ranked middleweight at 23-3-0, made clear he has little sympathy for the complaints. The 32-year-old South African said from personal experience that he has cut more weight than Chimaev did before their respective fights, and that a structured approach to the process makes it manageable. Standing six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and competing at 185 pounds, du Plessis's frame lends weight to his argument that larger cuts are achievable with the right preparation.
Chimaev, ranked first in the middleweight division at 15-1-0, had cited the weight cut as a contributing factor to his performance in his debut at 185 pounds. The 32-year-old from the UAE carries a 60 percent striking accuracy mark and averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the division's most dangerous all-around threats. His lone professional defeat now sits alongside the weight cut controversy that has followed it.
Strickland, the reigning middleweight champion, improved to 31-7-0 with the win. The 35-year-old American averages 6.04 significant strikes per minute, the highest output among the three fighters involved in this discussion.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis is ranked second in the division, with Chimaev ranked first, meaning the two could be on a collision course for a title shot or title fight.
- The weight cut debate keeps scrutiny on Chimaev's middleweight viability heading into whatever fight is booked next.
- Du Plessis's comments position him as a vocal and confident presence in a division that already has a crowded and competitive top five.
