Dricus Du Plessis is ready for his biggest challenge yet as he defends his UFC middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, at the United Center in Chicago. Speaking on Uncrowned’s The Ariel Helwani Show on August 6, 2025, the South African champion shared his excitement for the fight, praising Chimaev’s skills while touting his own unorthodox approach. He aims to cement his legacy by proving he’s the division’s top dog.
Confidence in His Craft
Du Plessis acknowledged Chimaev’s talent.
“He is a special fighter … incredibly good,” he said
He brushed off critics of his championship run.
“I don’t care if people say, ‘Dricus isn’t a good champion,’” he stated. “I’m getting paid, I’m defending the belt, twice, and now a third time. I’ve never had a boring fight”.
He highlighted his record, having faced nearly all top middleweights.
“Up until a month ago, I had fought everyone in the top five except Nassourdine Imavov. That’s the résumé. I want to fight the best guys, and I wanted the Khamzat fight so bad”
Du Plessis credits his success to his unique approach.
“I’m getting respect from more people now, but I’m proven, I’m winning. My style is not for everyone, it’s awkward,” he said.
He explained its purpose.
“It’s something they’ve never seen. So that’s why it’s awkward. How do you defend that? I do things in a way that my coaches and I have been training for. We look at a fighter, ‘This is the way they do it, and this is a better way to do it.’ Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t”
He avoids predictability.
“If you throw your strikes like everyone else, eventually somebody will be able to figure that out. It’s not that I’m awkward … I’m different. While people were critiquing, they should be taking notes because they’ll fall behind and have to play catch-up”. He added, “I’m chasing the perfect round, and the perfect fight. I think it’s impossible, but it’s worth chasing”.
Du Plessis pushed to face Chimaev in Abu Dhabi, where Chimaev trains.
“I begged them, actually — I wanted to fight [Chimaev] in Abu Dhabi, fighting in his neck of the woods, like I have been doing with so many other opponents,” he said. “I’ve grown quite fond of that”.
He’s all business in the cage.
“I’d fight my brother for my title, if I had to, and I’d try to kill him. I promise you that. And he’s my best friend. When we get in the [Octagon], there are no friends. There are no relationships in a fight”.
He praised Chimaev’s potential.
“From the first time I saw him fight, I knew he was going to be special,” he said
But he believes in himself more.
“There was never a stage where I thought he was overrated. He’s as good as people think. But I’m better than people think”.
He vowed to make waves.
“[Chimaev is] incredibly good,” he said. “But jeez, I can’t wait. This win? This is going to be history. I’m going out there and will shock the world once again”. He added, “You will see the boogeyman break in there, and realize there will be only one boogeyman in the division. And that man will be me”.
Du Plessis, 23-2 with a 9-0 UFC record, won the middleweight title from Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024, defending it against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August 2024 and Strickland at UFC 312 in February 2025. Chimaev, 14-0, earned his shot by submitting Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308 in October 2024. The UFC confirmed the matchup for Chicago on June 16, 2025, with Caio Borralho as the backup fighter.
Their rivalry heated up in April 2025 when Chimaev mocked Du Plessis’ fighting style, prompting the champion to defend his record against top contenders. In October 2023, Du Plessis questioned Chimaev’s hype after a close win over Kamaru Usman at UFC 294, saying Usman exposed him on short notice
Drawing inspiration from Michael Jordan, Du Plessis visited Jordan’s statue outside the United Center, moved by its inscription:
“The best there ever was. The best there ever will be”.
He aims to climb the pound-for-pound rankings, currently topped by Ilia Topuria, Merab Dvalishvili, and Islam Makhachev. Reinier de Ridder, a middleweight contender, said Du Plessis’ unpredictable style is harder to prepare for than Chimaev’s. A victory could solidify Du Plessis as a dominant champion.
