South Africa’s UFC champion Dricus du Plessis is stepping back into the octagon next week for what could be the toughest fight of his career..
In the headline fight of UFC 319 in Chicago, Stillknocks is set to defend his UFC world middleweight title against undefeated Khamzat Chimaev of Russia.
This will be Du Plessis’ first fight since his unanimous decision win over Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, in February.
The fight, at the United Center in Chicago, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 16, and will be broadcast at 4 a.m. SA time the following Sunday. It will be shown on SuperSport Action and Maximo 1. The exact time of the fight, though, will be determined by the length of the preliminary bouts on the night.
The fight against Chimaev will be Du Plessis’ biggest test since taking the championship belt off Strickland in January last year. Since then, he’s defended it against Israel Adesanya and Strickland, and has become a favourite among UFC fans around the world.
The 31-year-old Du Plessis is undefeated in nine UFC fights. To find the last time he lost a fight, you would have to go all the way back to 2018, when he was beaten by Roberto Soldić in a KSW welterweight bout at KSW 45 in London. His only other loss came in 2014 against Garreth McLellan at EFC 33 in Johannesburg.
Speaking on FOX 32 Chicago, Du Plessis said he was ready for Chimaev, who has a background in wrestling.
“We are not fighting for the wrestling title; we are fighting for the UFC title, and that’s where I am the best. I am not the best wrestler or striker, but when you put all those things together, that is where I am the best in the world… 100%,” he said.
Du Plessis acknowledged the escalating challenge that comes with holding a championship belt.
“I believe this is the best opponent I’ve faced to date, but so was the previous one. Every time you step in there, you’re going to face the next most dangerous guy, especially as the champion.”
Come Sunday morning, the champion will know whether he’s still the best in the world.
IOL Sport
