Every champion eventually meets a moment that shakes their dominance, and this past weekend was exactly that for South Africa’s Dricus du Plessis.
After capturing the UFC middleweight title and defending it twice, his unbeaten streak as champion came to an abrupt halt at the hands of Russia’s Khamzat Chimaev.
Chimaev’s Wrestling Proved Too Much
The fight itself wasn’t the kind of blockbuster fans had hoped for, but there was no debate about the result.
Chimaev’s wrestling completely shut down Du Plessis, leaving the South African with few answers.
In the end, the unanimous decision went the Russian’s way — a result that felt inevitable given the control he displayed on the ground.
A Big Payday Despite the Defeat
Although the loss stung, it wasn’t all doom and gloom financially.
Reports suggest Du Plessis still earned a massive $3 million (around R53 million) for stepping into the cage.
If he had managed to win, that number could have climbed by another $500,000 — a reminder of just how high the stakes are at this level.
No Immediate Rematch on the Cards
What’s next? According to his longtime coach, Morne Visser, fans shouldn’t expect an instant rematch with Chimaev.
Visser made it clear that the team needs time to regroup and fix glaring weaknesses before taking on the Russian again.
“I’ve been asked, ‘Do you want the rematch?’ and I said, ‘Absolutely not,’” Visser admitted.
“We’d like to fight him again, but we can’t go in while we’re behind in his style of wrestling.
He just knows how to control you on the floor.”
Fixing the Weak Spots
Visser didn’t mince his words about what comes next.
He explained that the focus now is on making big changes, especially in wrestling.
Instead of rushing into another fight camp, he wants to dedicate time to closing those gaps, ensuring Du Plessis is fully prepared when the time comes to face Chimaev again.
“I want to fix this problem first,” Visser said firmly.
“Because we will face Khamzat again — and next time, we want to destroy him.”
