Ex-Rival Warns Dricus Du Plessis About Khamzat Chimaev’s Grappling ‘Storm’

Former middleweight champion Sean Strickland predicts Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319.

Ex-Rival Warns Dricus Du Plessis About Khamzat Chimaev’s Grappling ‘Storm’

Sean Strickland believes Dricus Du Plessis can beat Khamzat Chimaev (via X)

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Dricus Du Plessis will go against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319, with the middleweight championship title on the line. Going into the fight, the hype surrounding this matchup is absolutely massive due to their ongoing personal beef and tension. The ‘Borz’ is the betting favorite; however, former champion Sean Strickland strongly believes there is a huge chance of an upset happening.

Strickland has fought Du Plessis on two different occasions and failed twice to get his hands raised in victory. Similarly, he has also shared intense sparring sessions with Chimaev and understands both fighters’ strengths and weaknesses quite well. In a recent interview, the ‘Tarzan’ gave his honest fight prediction while clearly siding with the reigning middleweight champ.

Dricus has better standup than Chimaev, but Chimaev has pretty crazy grappling. I’ve been training with these Dagi f***ing terrorists my entire life. I know how to get up from these guys and withstand a storm. I don’t know if he [Dricus] has encountered that level of wrestling to where it might get him a little off guard. Dricus really has to be ready for an extreme amount of pressure on the ground. If he can withstand that, he’s gonna beat him [Khamzat].

Sean Strickland via The Red Corner MMA 

Chimaev possesses a terrifying wrestling threat, often overwhelming opponents with relentless pressure and unmatched control on the ground. He has dominated veterans like Kevin Holland and Li Jingliang with absolute ease, showcasing his superior grappling and submission skills. The Chechen tends to go full throttle from the opening bell, immediately pressing forward and imposing his brutal pace on opponents.

Against Robert Whittaker, Chimaev showcased his aggression early and submitted the former champion by breaking his jaw during the exchange. Whittaker has already warned DDP to be careful about Chimaev’s early-round explosiveness. On top of that, the ‘Borz’ has an incredible winning momentum, but all these don’t seem to bother the middleweight champion. 

Dricus Du Plessis is ready to beat the odds against Khamzat Chimaev 

Dricus Du Plessis remains undefeated in his UFC run, using an awkward yet effective fighting style paired with incredible cardio. He has dominated top-tier competition, defeating both Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya to defend his middleweight title. DDP shocked everyone by beating the odds and proving doubters wrong with consistent pressure and unorthodox striking movement.

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319
Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 (via Imago)

After his successful title defenses, he confidently called out Khamzat Chimaev, seeking a true challenge to prove his dominance. In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Du Plessis promised fans he would shock the world. He is determined to make a statement, silencing doubters and solidifying his reign as the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.

He (Khamzat)’s a special fighter, he’s incredibly good. But I can’t wait. This is gonna be history. I’m going to shock the world once again… you’re gonna see the ‘boogeyman’ break…In the middleweight division, there can be only one boogeyman. And that will be me.

Dricus Du Plessis via The Ariel Helwani Show 

According to Dricus Du Plessis, it’s impossible to emulate his unique fighting style, making it difficult for Chimaev to prepare. The ‘Borz’, on the other hand, isn’t concerned about styles and believes he possesses the better tools to secure victory. Fans are extremely excited about the upcoming pre-fight press conference and the expected brutal trash talk between both superstars.

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