Dricus du Plessis, the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion, has voiced his opinion on Khamzat Chimaev’s recent title loss to Sean Strickland at UFC 328. Du Plessis believes that Chimaev and his team’s explanation for the defeat, citing a difficult weight cut, is not a valid excuse.
Following the split decision loss, several of Chimaev’s training partners, including Arman Tsarukyan, indicated that the fighter endured a strenuous weight cut to make the 185-pound limit. They suggested that struggling to shed the final pounds significantly impacted his performance, leading to a less dominant wrestling approach and a focus on striking.
Du Plessis’ Take: “Rookie Numbers” and a Call for Discipline
However, Dricus du Plessis dismisses these claims, stating that he has personally managed more challenging weight cuts in shorter timeframes. He told Fight Forecast, “I think this whole weight-cut excuse is ridiculous. I think they said he [Khamzat Chimaev] cut 12 pounds in 24 hours. Those are rookie numbers… I definitely cut more than that.”
The South African fighter emphasized that even if Chimaev experienced a tough weight cut, it should not be presented as the sole reason for losing the fight. Du Plessis advised Chimaev to prioritize discipline and physical conditioning, and to avoid making excuses after a title bout. He further suggested that if making weight consistently proves problematic for Chimaev, a move to the light heavyweight division (205 pounds) would be a more sensible option.
“I just think using a weight cut as an excuse when it comes to the fight. Even if you did have a bad weight cut, it is fine… But you don’t go out there and say, ‘Oh, I lost the fight because of that.’… Be more disciplined, and the weight cut would be easier,” du Plessis commented.
Interestingly, after his UFC 328 loss, Chimaev initially expressed interest in moving up to light heavyweight to Dana White. However, recent indications suggest he has since reconsidered, expressing a desire for a rematch with Sean Strickland and reportedly training with that goal in mind.