Dricus du Plessis wants to return to the cage, and his opponent will be Khamzat Chimaev.
The dominant UFC middleweight champion said Sias du Plessis Show That he and Chimaev agreed to fight verbally, with two possible dates in mind. According to Du Plessis, their matchup will take place by September.
“So we have a date,” said Du Plessis. “But we have two date possibilities. I’ve already agreed to both. A lot of people say, ‘Is this year?’ Yes, it’s not far away. We already agree to the date.
“So I’m just waiting for a contract, but that’s the battle that’s going on. It’s going to happen in the next few months, up to four months. It’s going to happen these days. Nothing will be signed, but I’ve already agreed to the date.
Du Plessis recently shot down rumors that he will miss the rest of 2025 with injuries, dismissing it as a social media Scuttlebutt. He escaped from a unanimous decision victory over rival Sean Strickland at UFC 312 this February. His UFC records improved to 9-0.
If Chimaev is immediately announced as a challenger, Duplesis looks forward to rejecting his dangerous wrestling, as if he had the elite skills of his previous enemies.
“His wrestling is world class,” Duplesis said. “That’s incredible. But it’s impressive to see Israeli Adesanya, right? So does Sean Strickland boxing. Adesanya’s impressive world class, his kickboxing record speaks for itself. Lesson, to prove once again that I’m the best I ever had and doing whatever it takes to prove it.
“Yes, I know his wrestling is great, so it’s 100%. He’s proven that. I mean, look at his performance. But you’re as good as the other person will forgive you.
Du Plessis is frequently criticized for his unorthodox style, but the results could not be denied. Not only is he undefeated within the Octagon, he also scored a finish in six of his nine victories, including Israel Adesanya’s submission and Robert Whitaker’s knockout.
Chimaev’s Mystique unravels the next big test of Du Plessis. It is assumed that Chimaev will reach the cage. Chimaev has struggled with inactivity in just four fights in the past three years.
Luckily for Du Plessis, whether it’s Khamzat or someone else, it doesn’t matter to him. He is ready to defend his belt again.
“These are forces that don’t bother me because I try not to worry about things that I can’t control,” Duplesis said of the possibility of Chimaev’s withdrawal. “The UFC always finds plans. Like I said, I don’t prepare for Khamzat. I prepare to become the best Doricus. Then, if he pulls out a week of fight, the UFC wins someone else.