Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis is eager for a chance to avenge his loss against Khamzat Chimaev in a rematch scheduled for April.
The two middleweights previously met last August for the title, where Chimaev decisively outperformed the South African over five rounds to claim the championship. Since then, both fighters have been inactive, with Chimaev preparing to make his first defense of the middleweight belt.
Du Plessis remains hopeful about reclaiming the 185-pound title but recognizes that he must secure at least one victory before being considered for another championship bout.
Du Plessis plans to let Chimaev “fight his own fight” if they meet again
Currently, Chimaev is expected to defend his title against No. 2 contender Nassourdine Imavov. However, du Plessis is optimistic about disrupting those plans and aims for a title rematch with Chimaev in April.
In their initial fight, Chimaev’s superior wrestling was the key to his victory, and while du Plessis was disappointed with the loss, he acknowledges that this style is part of Chimaev’s strength. “Fighting Khamzat again is obviously my goal. Are we expecting any surprises? No,” du Plessis told Fight Forecast. “That’s just how he fights. If he tries anything different, it’ll be a bad night for him. He did what he needed to do to win the belt—we can’t fault him for that.”
Despite concerns over his wrestling and grappling defense during their first encounter, du Plessis is committed to confronting Chimaev head-on in any potential rematch. “Now it’s my responsibility to fix those weaknesses, make sure it doesn’t happen again, and let him face me.”
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
Du Plessis understands the magnitude of his upcoming fight
The defeat by Chimaev marked du Plessis’ first loss in the UFC, and the 32-year-old is fully aware that his next fight might be the most crucial of his career. Targeting a return in April, he knows that even a loss at that stage would make climbing back into title contention a monumental challenge.
“I obviously need to address some aspects of my game, and I’m taking time to do that now. But like I said, I’m ready for the April card in Miami. I don’t have an opponent yet, but I’m prepared to get back in there and go after the belt,” du Plessis explained.
“Of course, I want to beat Khamzat and avenge that loss, but right now the next fight is the most important fight of my life.”
Fan Take: This upcoming rematch holds huge significance for fight fans as it pits two elite middleweights with contrasting styles against each other once again. If du Plessis can overcome Chimaev’s wrestling dominance, it could reshape the middleweight landscape and set a thrilling precedent for future title rivalries in the UFC.
