Ikram Aliskerov, a UFC middleweight who once faced Khamzat Chimaev, didn’t mince words about Dricus Du Plessis’s performance at UFC 319. In a recent interview, he criticized the former champion’s wrestling after Chimaev dominated him to claim the middleweight title on August 16, 2025, in Chicago.
Aliskerov’s Blunt Critique
Aliskerov was disappointed with Du Plessis’s effort against Chimaev’s grappling.
“Well, in my opinion, it’s a shame for a champion to perform like that in terms of wrestling,” he said. “You have to show why you are a champion.”
Ikram Aliskerov calls Dricus Du Plessis’ performance against Khamzat Chimaev “shameful” 👀🔥
(via @babadzhanov07 ) pic.twitter.com/gUkrqn25v5
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 25, 2025
Chimaev controlled Du Plessis for nearly 22 minutes, landing 529 strikes and securing 12 takedowns, per UFC stats. The judges scored it 50-44 unanimously, handing Chimaev the middleweight belt. Aliskerov, familiar with Chimaev’s wrestling from their 2019 fight, felt Du Plessis didn’t live up to a champion’s standard in the grappling department.
Aliskerov started his combat sports journey with sambo and judo in fifth grade. A four-time combat sambo world champion, he transitioned to MMA in 2012, debuting with a decision win over Alimjon Shadmanov at Fight Star: European MMA Cup. He joined the UFC in 2022 after a first-round submission over Mário Sousa on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Aliskerov’s UFC debut came at UFC 288 in May 2023, where he knocked out Phil Hawes in the first round. He followed with another first-round KO against Warlley Alves at UFC 294 in October 2023, earning a Performance of the Night bonus. A knockout loss to Robert Whittaker at UFC on ABC 6 in June 2024 halted his streak, but he rebounded with a first-round TKO over Andre Muniz at UFC Fight Night on April 26, 2025. Aliskerov was set to face Brunno Ferreira at UFC 318 on July 19, 2025, but withdrew due to a broken toe sustained while sparring Rinat Fakhretdinov. His record stands at 16-2 overall, with 3-1 in the UFC.
Du Plessis, with a 23-3 record and 9-1 in the UFC, had a strong run as middleweight champion. He won the title by outpointing Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024, then defended it with a submission over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August 2024. He solidified his reign by beating Strickland again at UFC 312 in February 2025. But at UFC 319, Chimaev’s wrestling overwhelmed him, ending his title run. Du Plessis took the loss humbly, posting on Instagram, “I have absolutely no excuses for my performance, I was beaten by a better fighter on the night.” His coach, Morne Visser, claimed an extra minute could have changed the outcome, a comment that drew heavy criticism on X for ignoring the fight’s one-sided nature.
Aliskerov’s critique underscores Du Plessis’s need to improve his wrestling to compete with elite grapplers like Chimaev. With Paulo Costa calling for a fight with Du Plessis in late 2025, the South African faces a tough path back to the title. Aliskerov, meanwhile, is scheduled to fight Jun Yong Park at UFC 321 on October 25, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, looking to build on his recent win.
