UFC middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev recently took aim at the team of Dricus du Plessis ahead of their scheduled clash at UFC 319.
UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev clearly hold no fondness for each other leading up to their highly anticipated fight at UFC 319. Both fighters are known for their pre-fight verbal sparring, making the build-up to this event particularly charged.
Du Plessis has already expressed concerns about Chimaev potentially withdrawing from the fight, citing Chimaev`s history of cancellations due to health issues. Should either du Plessis or Chimaev be unable to compete at UFC 319, Nassourdine Imavov is slated as the backup fighter for the main event.
In the meantime, the animosity between du Plessis and Chimaev is rapidly approaching a breaking point as their fight date nears.
Khamzat Chimaev Mocks Dricus du Plessis’s Corner Ahead of UFC 319
Chimaev is well-versed in engaging in verbal warfare before fights. Prior to his recent victories over Kevin Holland, Kamaru Usman, and Robert Whittaker, Chimaev has employed various strategies to get under his opponents` skin.
Du Plessis, conversely, is recognized as one of MMA`s premier practitioners of psychological tactics, exemplified by his heated exchanges with fighters like Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland. Du Plessis`s comments regarding Strickland`s difficult past notably led the usually confrontational fighter to tears on a podcast.
Tensions are escalating quickly between du Plessis and Chimaev, and the undefeated contender recently took a subtle jab at du Plessis`s coaches ahead of their UFC 319 bout.
In a recent post on the social media platform X, Chimaev shared a picture of du Plessis alongside his coaches following his win at UFC 297. He accompanied the image with several `donut` emojis, seemingly mocking the large physiques of du Plessis`s corner team.
As of the time of writing, du Plessis has not publicly responded to Chimaev`s comments, but a reply is expected soon. Du Plessis`s last fight was a unanimous decision victory over Sean Strickland in their rematch at UFC 312.
UFC Legend Predicts Chimaev Will Face Wrestling Challenges Against DDP
In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, UFC legend Chael Sonnen predicted that Chimaev`s attempts to take down the champion du Plessis might prove more difficult than he anticipates. Throughout his career, Chimaev has consistently secured takedowns with relative ease against all his opponents, including his recent submission win over Robert Whittaker.
However, du Plessis has demonstrated high-level grappling skills during his middleweight championship run, as seen in his recent wins against Strickland and Israel Adesanya. His unique striking approach combined with his tenacious wrestling makes him a particularly challenging opponent in the UFC`s middleweight division.
One of these fighters, either du Plessis or Chimaev, will suffer their first professional loss in the UFC when they meet at UFC 319 later this year. With fight night just a few months away, tensions between the two top middleweights are reaching a fever pitch.
Jack Thornley