Dricus Du Plessis defends his UFC middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025, in Chicago. Michael Bisping, a former UFC champion, says Du Plessis needs to face Chimaev’s wrestling head-on to win. Avoiding Chimaev’s ground game will lead to a loss. The bad blood between the fighters makes this a must-watch fight.
Bisping’s Advice for Du Plessis
On ESPN’s UFC on ABC 9 post-show, Bisping praised Du Plessis’ mindset.
“Dricus Du Plessis, I mean, you cannot doubt this guy,” Bisping said. “He said he wants to fight Khamzat on the ground. He said everyone else tries to avoid the ground with him, he said, ‘I want to fight the best version of him. I want to test my skills against his on the ground.’ He’s not intimidated.”
Bisping noted Du Plessis’ skills.
“There are videos of Dricus Du Plessis online taking on an entire Gracie Barra blackbelt team and submitting them all one by one. He’s big, he’s strong, he can wrestle, he’s got great judo, he’s got knockout power. He’s had a nose job so. He’s got a great gas tank now as well. They hate each other. They absolutely hate each other.”
Bisping stressed Chimaev’s grappling strength.
“(Chimaev) is going to get you down,” Bisping said. “Look at what he did to (Robert) Whittaker. Look at what he did to (Kamaru) Usman. Usman, with that fight you might go, ‘Oh yeah, Usman’s had his best days behind him.’ Then, look what he did to Joaquin Buckley.”
He added, “He’s still got it. That’s how good Khamzat Chimaev is at wrestling. So if you try and just do everything you can to avoid him and get away and run, you’re just running away the entire time. He’s going to get you. Nah, screw that. Meet him head on. Fight him at his own game.”
Du Plessis, a 31-year-old from South Africa, has a 23-2 MMA record, with 9-0 in the UFC. He won the middleweight title from Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024 and defended it against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August 2024. His last loss was to Roberto Soldic in KSW in 2018.
Chimaev, a 31-year-old from Chechnya, has a 14-0 MMA record, with 8-0 in the UFC. He earned his title shot by submitting Robert Whittaker in the first round at UFC 308 in October 2024. His wins over Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns showed his wrestling power, though his stamina faded late.
Du Plessis started in EFC Africa, winning the middleweight title before joining the UFC in 2020 with a knockout over Markus Perez. His strength and grappling beat Whittaker and Adesanya. Chimaev fought in Brave CF, entering the UFC in 2020 with quick knockouts of John Phillips and Rhys McKee. His wrestling crushed opponents like Usman and Buckley.
Du Plessis is a +164 underdog, with Chimaev a -198 favorite. Caio Borralho is the backup fighter for UFC 319. Bisping’s advice pushes Du Plessis to match Chimaev’s intensity to keep his title. Dana White calls this a huge middleweight fight.
