Khamzat Chimaev’s crushing win over Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, made him the new middleweight champion. Joe Rogan, calling the fight at Chicago’s United Center, was stunned by Chimaev’s wrestling and questioned Du Plessis’ ability to bounce back. Speaking post-fight, Rogan also highlighted Reinier de Ridder as a potential challenge for Chimaev.
A Wrestling Clinic
Chimaev controlled Du Plessis for 25 minutes, landing 529 strikes and securing 12 takedowns to win by unanimous decision (50-44). Broadcast on ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, and ESPN+, the fight showcased Chimaev’s grappling dominance. Rogan was skeptical about Du Plessis’ chances of a comeback.
“I mean, for Dricus to come back from that and bridge the gap between him and Khamzat? That is a tall task,” he said post-UFC 319. “It’s a tall task because that kind of dominance, that kind of grappling dominance, was not just a level. It was multiple levels, and it just didn’t seem like he had any answer for that. I don’t know who he brought in to train with him, but clearly he didn’t bring in anybody that had that kind of skill.”
Du Plessis’ Struggle
Du Plessis showed heart, landing a right hand and attempting a guillotine in the fifth round, but Chimaev escaped easily. Rogan pointed out Du Plessis’ lack of preparation for elite wrestling, suggesting better training partners were needed. In the octagon, Du Plessis told Rogan:
“The man has incredible control on the top. He’s just like a blanket,”. His coach, Morne Visser, promised improvements for a rematch, but Rogan’s doubts highlight the challenge ahead.
De Ridder as a Contender
Rogan sees Reinier de Ridder as a potential threat to Chimaev.
“Reinier de Ridder in particular,” he said. “Given his ability to grapple on the ground and also his ability to land shots standing, particularly that knee he lands. Toughness, experience, he throws those combinations with that long lead-in knee. He’s interesting.”
Du Plessis’ coach called Chimaev “one-dimensional,”, but Chimaev’s control disproved this. Paulo Costa, on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” criticized Chimaev’s style as boring, saying it could “kill this business,”. Michael Bisping, on his YouTube channel, echoed Rogan’s pick of de Ridder as Chimaev’s toughest test.
Joe Rogan started martial arts at 14, competing in taekwondo. He joined the UFC as a commentator in 1997, becoming a mainstay with his podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.” His cageside work with Jon Anik and Daniel Cormier at UFC 319 is valued for its insight. Rogan’s martial arts background and long tenure in MMA lend credibility to his analysis of Du Plessis’ uphill battle.
