Dricus Du Plessis says his upcoming middleweight bout against Kamaru Usman is a deliberate choice to showcase his wrestling and grappling rather than test himself against another striker. He acknowledged interest in a fight with Imavov but questioned what another win over a striker would prove after already twice beating Sean Strickland. Du Plessis pointed to Usman's victory over Strickland and his close fight with Chimaev as evidence that the matchup will demonstrate his all-around game.
Dricus Du Plessis has explained the reasoning behind his upcoming middleweight bout against Kamaru Usman, framing it as a deliberate opportunity to demonstrate his wrestling and grappling credentials rather than simply adding another striker to his resume.
Du Plessis, 32, enters the fight ranked second in the middleweight division and seventh pound-for-pound, carrying a 23-3-0 record. The South African out of Team CIT stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach and lands a sharp 5.18 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. He also averages 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes, a number that speaks directly to his point about proving his all-around capabilities. He acknowledged genuine interest in a matchup with Nassourdine Imavov but questioned what value another victory over a pure striker would carry after he has already beaten Sean Strickland twice.
Strickland, the current middleweight champion at 31-7-0, is a volume striker who fires 6.04 significant strikes per minute, and Du Plessis cited his win over Strickland as evidence that the striking dimension has largely been addressed. Du Plessis also pointed to Usman's competitive fight against Khamzat Chimaev as a measuring stick for the kind of grappling-heavy challenge Usman can present.
Chimaev, ranked first in the division at 15-1-0, gives useful context here. The 32-year-old averages a punishing 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and leads the division in submission attempts, so a tight contest between Usman and Chimaev carries real weight as a credential for what Usman brings to the grappling game.
Why it matters
- Du Plessis versus Usman reshuffles the middleweight top two, with the number-one and number-two ranked fighters in the division both in the picture
- A Du Plessis win with a grappling emphasis would strengthen his case as a complete mixed martial artist ahead of any future title challenger
- Strickland's title reign adds urgency to the rankings picture, with both men positioned as potential next contenders
