Middleweight champion Дрикус дю Плесси has hinted on social media that he is traveling to Newark for UFC 328 this weekend. The numbered event will feature a middleweight bout between Хамзат Чимаев and Шон Стрикленд. Du Plessis's presence at the event has sparked speculation about potential confrontations or face-offs. UFC 328 is scheduled to take place in Newark in the coming days. The champion's attendance suggests he may be scouting his next potential opponent.
Middleweight champion Дрикус дю Плесси has signaled on social media that he will be in Newark this weekend for UFC 328, where the top two contenders in his division are set to collide when Хамзат Чимаев meets Шон Стрикленд on May 9.
Du Plessis, 32, carries a 23-3-0 record and holds the middleweight title while sitting seventh in the pound-for-pound rankings. The South African, who trains out of Team CIT, is a relentless finisher who lands 5.18 significant strikes per minute and mixes in 2.22 takedowns per 15 minutes. His presence cageside strongly suggests he is evaluating which of the two middleweights will become his next mandatory challenger.
Strickland enters the bout listed as champion in the verified data, carrying a 31-7-0 record at 35 years old. The Xtreme Couture product is one of the sport's highest-volume strikers, landing 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though his 42 percent accuracy reflects a relentless output-over-precision style. The American stands six-foot-one with a 76-inch reach.
Chimaev, ranked first in the division at 32, brings a 15-1-0 record and represents a markedly different profile. The UAE-based Swede leads the division in wrestling pressure, averaging 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, and his 60 percent striking accuracy makes him one of the most precise fighters on the roster. He stands six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach.
Почему это важно
- Победитель боя Chimaev vs. Strickland станет главным претендентом на бой с Du Plessis за титул чемпиона в среднем весе.
- Du Plessis, занимающий второе место в дивизионе после Chimaev, имеет личный интерес в изучении обоих бойцов.
- Контрастное различие между тактикой борьбы Chimaev с высокой точностью и высокоинтенсивными ударами Strickland дает чемпиону два совершенно разных сценария для анализа.
суббота, 9 мая 2026 г.
