The UFC middleweight championship wasn’t constructed for Dricus du Plessis, he took it by power. That honor appeared reserved for Khamzat Chimaev, whom many deemed a future champion early on. Perhaps that is why Du Plessis is a betting underdog at UFC 319 in Chicago. However make no mistake: he isn’t trying to show something to anybody however himself on Saturday.
Du Plessis is an underdog for his third title protection. It is not the primary time individuals have bought him quick. Israel Adesanya and Robert Whittaker opened as favorites for his or her respective fights with Du Plessis. He violently stopped them each. Chimaev, against this, has by no means been the underdog. As individuals clamored for Chimaev’s eventual ascent to champion, Du Plessis went forward and did it.
“Odds do not make fights, fighters do. The percentages have by no means dictated how I combat,” Du Plessis advised CBS Sports activities. “Saying that I turned every little thing individuals thought Khamzat can be, I agree with that. That is as a result of I am constructed in a different way. I will present that once more on the sixteenth.”
Chimaev’s rise stalled attributable to well being, weight and reported journey points. Throughout that point, Du Plessis stayed lively. It reveals not solely within the gold round his waist, however within the high quality of his wins: 4 victories over former UFC champions in comparison with Chimaev’s two. Du Plessis additionally hasn’t shied from hazard. He demanded to combat Chimaev earlier than the UFC booked his rematch with Sean Strickland.
UFC 319 combat card — Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev: 5 largest storylines to look at in Chicago
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“It is the last word aim of being the best to do that,” Du Plessis mentioned. “To be the biggest, it is not what number of guys you beat or how lengthy you have been on the high; it is about who you beat whilst you have been there. I do not wish to be the man who held the belt and chosen opponents. I wish to combat the better of the very best and that is what I have been doing.
“In case you take a look at our information, Khamzat has eight wins within the UFC and I’ve 9. Go examine our resumes, it is ridiculous.”
It is easy to see why individuals underestimate Du Plessis. By his admission, his fashion is inelegant. He marauds into his opponents, throwing every little thing however the kitchen sink — an irregular but supremely efficient method. Du Plessis believes the totality of his sport exceeds the first abilities of his friends. He overcame Adesanya’s adorned kickboxing and Sean Strickland’s awkward protection. He expects to do the identical with Chimaev’s wrestling.
“From a wrestling and grappling perspective, he doesn’t do one thing that hasn’t been seen earlier than,” Du Plessis mentioned.
“I do not assume there’s been loads of guys that do it the way in which I do it. And on the subject of pure wrestling and pure grappling, after all, Khamzat is superb, however that is totally different… It is not wrestling and it is not grappling. It is MMA.”
Take a look at the complete interview with Dricus du Plessis beneath.
Few opponents have gone the space with Du Plessis. He breaks them down in waves till their defenses collapse. Du Plessis embodies Mike Tyson’s iconic quote, “Everybody has a plan till they get punched within the face.” In each combat, Du Plessis has sensed the second somebody falters. He believes that Chimaev is destined for a similar destiny.
“You can see some tells while you take a look at the physique language,” Du Plessis mentioned. “You sense it like a predator senses its prey is weak. You may see it within the aura.”
Chimaev’s nickname “Borz” interprets to “wolf,” a becoming moniker for a fighter who lunges and clamps onto foes with rabid precision. Chimaev and his many supporters see him because the UFC’s apex predator. However Du Plessis is the king of the middleweight jungle. He is tracked Chimaev for a very long time, and at UFC 319, he is going wolf searching.
