Dricus Du Plessis Teased for Shocking Heavyweight Move Following Khamzat Chimaev Showdown at UFC 319

Ex-UFC heavyweight digs the possibility of Dricus Du Plessis moving up two weight classes after UFC 319 PPV challenge vs. Khamzat Chimaev.

Dricus Du Plessis Teased for Shocking Heavyweight Move Following Khamzat Chimaev Showdown at UFC 319

Dricus Du Plessis forecasted to fight at heavyweight after UFC 319 (Source: X)

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A modestly long-time reigning 185-pound champ, Dricus Du Plessis, faces his stiffest test at UFC 319. In just two weeks, he meets the explosive Khamzat Chimaev during the August 16 PPV showdown, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Not many names have fared well against the dangerous ‘Borz,’ and even so, none have been able to register a win against the yet 14-0 fighter.

However, much like Chimaev, the South African is an equal part scrambler, berserker, and has been honing his ground games for this bout. Just ask MMA’s bold ‘Bad Guy’ Chael Sonnen, who took some creative liberties stating his wrestling prowess. And now another analyst has claimed that he could overtake Ilia Topuria to become the promotion’s first three-division title holder.

Ahead of his upcoming title defense, many fans and pundits favor the champion to retain, regardless of the betting odds. Some have jokingly predicted “DDP by better shape,” while others quip “DDP by smesh,” referencing his improved Greco-Roman wrestling, which could effectively neutralize Chimaev’s trademark freestyle takedowns and trips.

As a result, during this camp, ‘Stillknocks’ is looking bloated than ever and in all the right ways. Perhaps even bordering on the natural hydration limits of a 205-pounder. Hence, ex-UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub took to the JAXXON podcast and predicted DDP to make a mark in the 265-pound class someday soon.

I think whoever wins out of Khamzat and DDP, whoever wins that, can go for three belts, [with Borz at 170 before]…But, but measurement. DDP’s bigger than Khamzat. So [looking at] light heavyweight, he’s probably a light heavyweight naturally. So it makes sense for DDP to go to light heavyweight. Heavyweight isn’t a stretch for him. [Cause] DDP’s a big boy.

Brendan Schaub on the ‘JAXXON’ Podcast

At UFC 319 PPV, Du Plessis returns at a time when names like Islam Makhachev and Topuria have shown interest in competing for belts in various weight classes. UFC executives reportedly have disapproved of champions competing in different divisions with work left in their own weight class.

Although Dana White clarified that if the champion cleans his respective weight and can handle the other one at the same time, then they can pursue that road. And so this size advantage opens the door for Du Plessis to do the same.

Joe Rogan, a big proponent of proper cuts and their pitfalls otherwise, has also tagged the champ as bigger and gradually improving for a competition 185-pounder. For his part, the champ himself once told Alex Pereira he won’t have to come down to middleweight but rather face him at the 205-pound limit itself. So it’s not at all unnatural for the South African to chase a higher weight class someday.

If Du Plessis can defeat Chimaev, the reigning title holder could undergo a dramatic transformation for his next ballot appearance in the Octagon. He’d be 4-0 in title stints with 3 successful defenses and make his case for another weight class. However, one middleweight star isn’t confident in Du Plessis’s ability to get it done.

Shara Magomedov believes Dricus Du Plessis is not capable enough to stop the explosive ‘Borz’

Dricus Du Plessis defeated Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 with a submission and then made another bloody defense against Sean Strickland at UFC 312. These are two former champs that ‘Stillknocks’ rocked off during their media day banter and even made them cry! When it comes to trash-talk, DDP is an A-Lister like none other.

Middleweight peer scoffs at Dricus Du Plessis and his chances vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Middleweight peer scoffs at Dricus Du Plessis and his chances vs. Khamzat Chimaev (Source: X)

His disses have extended to current rival Khamzat Chimaev as well. In some of his disses to the Chechen Wolf, Du Plessis extended a courteous bone to UFC middleweight star Shara ‘Bullet’ Magomedov as well! Du Plessis is used to being discredited despite holding the middleweight crown.

But there are some doubts on Chimaev as well, given his fights do not go over the third-round barrier, and he lacks the extended gas tank for it. Despite all that, Magomedov often gives in to the hate. During the UFC on ABC 9 pre-fight conference, he lauded DDP as a striker, but ultimately forecasted him to lose.

As I said before, Dricus is in very good, strong hands in this fight, [But] but, not…not for Chimaev. For UFC 319. We’ll make sure to remember his name with two seconds of silence, afterward…

Shara Magomedov via UFC Abu Dhabi presser

In the discourse of his UFC on ABC 9 scrapper with Marc-Andre Barriault, Bullet made $50,000 ‘FOTN’ bonus for his spectacular win. However, he suffered a broken nose in the clinical warfare that ensued, and DDP added insult to injury with that septum, calling the one-eyed pirate a ‘Cyclops’.

So it’s not hard to see why the middleweight contender has some angst for the champ. Hence, he predicts the Chechen would make quick work of him despite Du Plessis’ array of skills and Octagon success. Come two more weeks, only time will tell if this prediction holds.

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