Dricus Du Plessis Relates to Jack Della Maddalena’s Suffering: “These Guys’ Style Needs to Be Figured Out”

Dricus Du Plessis compares his loss against Khamzat Chimaev after Islam Makhachev defeated Jack Della Maddalena in a similar fashion.

Dricus Du Plessis Relates to Jack Della Maddalena’s Suffering: “These Guys’ Style Needs to Be Figured Out”

Dricus Du Plessis gets reminiscent of UFC 319 after watching JDM's loss at UFC 322 (via MMA Fighting, Fighters Only)

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Wrestling and grappling-heavy fighters have found significant success in recent years, consistently dictating pace and control in high-level MMA bouts. Islam Makhachev displayed this same dominance at UFC 322 when he overwhelmed Jack Della Maddalena across all five rounds. His win prompted Dricus Du Plessis to relate to JDM’s reaction, noting the difficulty of facing such pressure-driven styles.

Makhachev won the welterweight championship by defeating Maddalena via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45). The victory made him the eleventh two-division champion in UFC history and highlighted his seamless transition up in weight. JDM appeared visibly battered by the final bell, struggling with the accumulated damage and constant control.

Du Plessis experienced a similar ordeal when he lost his middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319. That fight became known as one of the most one-sided title bouts of recent years, ending in a unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44). The dominance he faced directly led to his recent comments comparing Makhachev’s performance to his own experience against Chimaev.

It just seemed like Islam had an answer for every single thing JDM threw at him. That fight looked a lot like myself vs. Chimaev. These guys have a style that needs to be figured out. These Russian-style wrestlers just have something about the rest. They’ve proven very successful in that. Total dominant performance by Islam.

Dricus Du Plessis via Fight Forecast

Khabib Nurmagomedov laid the foundation for this wrestling-driven style, creating a model built on pressure, control, and constant positional advances. His mentorship helped refine Makhachev’s timing, composure, and overall fight IQ. Under Khabib’s guidance, Makhachev sharpened his striking while maintaining elite grappling fundamentals, and his UFC 322 win showcased that dominant skill set.

Du Plessis built his reputation by beating elite contenders, including former champion Robert Whittaker and Derek Brunson, in another breakthrough win that pushed him into title contention. He went on to claim the middleweight championship by defeating Sean Strickland in a close fight at UFC 297. Du Plessis later strengthened his reign with a successful title defense after submitting Israel Adesanya.

The broader MMA landscape continues to shift toward fighters who can impose relentless grappling pressure. As athletes like Islam Makhachev set new standards for this approach, divisions increasingly reward those who can blend wrestling with disciplined striking. Dricus Du Plessis’s perspective adds weight to the conversation, showing how even champions struggle against this emerging template.

Dricus Du Plessis weighs in on potential Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria fight

Islam Makhachev’s dominant performance at UFC 322 drew widespread praise across the MMA community, with analysts highlighting his grappling control and striking precision. Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, however, did not echo the same sentiment and instead positioned himself as a challenger, signaling interest in a potential bout against Makhachev.

Dricus Du Plessis talks about Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria
Dricus Du Plessis talks about Islam Makhachev vs Ilia Topuria (via ESPN, BBC)

Makhachev and Topuria have maintained a heated online rivalry, exchanging challenges and criticisms over several months. Topuria moved up from featherweight, aiming to fight Makhachev, but by then the Dagestani star had already moved into the welterweight division. Their highly anticipated superfight remained on hold, leading Dricus Du Plessis to express interest in seeing the two champions finally meet.

Islam is so good and it feels like there’s nothing he can’t do when it comes to the fight. But the fight I would love to see is him vs. Ilia. Ilia is also a double champion. I don’t think we can let that fight not happen eventually.

Dricus Du Plessis via Fight Forecast

A potential matchup between Makhachev and Topuria would have major implications for UFC history and divisional hierarchies. Champion-versus-champion fights are rare and offer both legacy and stylistic intrigue. The bout could redefine grappling-versus-striking dynamics and cross-division competition in MMA. Dricus Du Plessis’s interest highlights the significance and excitement of this potential clash.

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