Joe Rogan Advises Dricus Du Plessis to ‘Bend MMA Rules’ to Escape Khamzat Chimaev Storm
Joe Rogan gives a cunning advice to middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis ahead of fight against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319

Joe Rogan advice for Dricus Du Plessis ahead of Khamzat Chimaev fight (via MMA Mania/New York Times)
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Commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan is a household name in the world of MMA. He is known for his MMA knowledge and technical fight breakdowns. The upcoming championship fight between Dricus Du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev is certainly a hot topic in the MMA community right now. Rogan recently spoke out, offering some advice to DDP regarding his upcoming title defense.
Rogan was joined by friends and fellow martial artists John Rallo, Matt Serra, and Din Thomas on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience. The group discussed various topics while engaging in a fun conversation. However, the conversation soon led to Serra discussing the UFC 319 main event. Rogan gave a reality check to DDP by giving him advice to train in a rubber suit to match Chimaev’s wrestling.
I would advise a strong warm-up in a rubber suit, slippery as f*ck. If you don’t wanna cheat, you can bend the rules, cause its not cheating
Joe Rogan via The Joe Rogan Experience
Can it get any more intense 😮💨@DricusDuPlessis vs @KChimaev
— UFC (@ufc) August 14, 2025
[ LIVE SAT 10pmET on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/ar6nNShqGF
The group further discussed Chimaev’s wrestling prowess, deeming it “possible to survive”, relating to the Kamaru Usman fight at UFC 294. They stated that even though Robert Whittaker could not survive ‘Borz’, Usman showed resilient defense against the Chechen’s grappling and power control.
Rogan further reminded the group of Chimaev’s performance against Kevin Holland at UFC 279, which was a one-sided victory in favor of ‘Borz’. However, since Usman was able to go past the second round, Chimaev slowed down and almost lost the bout via decision.
Rogan has been an advocate for DDP multiple times in the past. He has appreciated the South African’s unorthodox style and endurance against former champions. Rogan has been an avid supporter of Du Plessis since before he earned the middleweight championship. He has said on multiple instances that DDP always finds a way to make other fighters look stupid.
Matt Serra revealed that he had hosted Du Plessis on his podcast UFC Unfiltered recently. He praised DDP’s mindset and ability to restart between fights. The veteran also spoke about how ‘Stillknocks’ grappling ability was not to be underestimated either. Rogan added that Du Plessis has worked hard enough to go into the octagon and get the desired results with no difficulties.
The fight between Du Plessis and Chimaev is a stylistic puzzle for the fans and pundits, as both fighters are on equal levels in terms of their fighting styles. Chimaev has the grappling advantage; however, DDP has proven himself to get out of deep waters while still having the power to land a finish.
Joe Rogan questions Dricus Du Plessis’s ability to stop Khamzat Chimaev
Rogan has always lauded Du Plessis’ fighting style and durability. He has always been impressed by DDP’s ability to take down the best of the best. However, the only person who cast doubt on the veteran commentator was Khamzat Chimaev. With his well-rounded striking and grappling prowess, Chimaev has defeated anyone that has been put in his way with ease.

On an episode of JRE, Rogan deemed Chimaev to be the “highest level in the sport.” With a record of 14 wins, most of which were dominant performances, ‘Borz’ is a problem for Du Plessis. Rogan pondered if Du Plessis would be able to defend against the grappling prowess of Chimaev.
Can Dricus stop that takedown? Khamzat just shoots from like 15 feet away and gets a hold of your legs so quick.
Joe Rogan via The Joe Rogan experience
Joe Rogan questions whether Dricus Du Plessis can stop key Khamzat Chimaev traithttps://t.co/9kKSwSPNja
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 10, 2025
Rogan believed that Chimaev was a big test for DDP as the South African has not faced anyone like ‘Borz’. At times, the middleweight champion struggled to stop fighters like Whittaker and Derek Brunson from taking him down. This has led most people to think that Chimaev could easily land takedowns.
However, Joe Rogan also recognized ‘Stillknocks’ as a very tough fighter who can confuse their opponents and gain victory. It remains to be seen as to who will emerge victorious in this battle of styles at UFC 319.
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