As the UFC 319 fight weekend approaches, reigning Middleweight World Champion Dricus du Plessis is gearing up for a high-stakes showdown against undefeated Russian contender Khamzat Chimaev.
Despite entering the United Centre in Chicago to a chorus of boos from Chimaev’s fans, the South African champion remained unfazed and confident ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Champion vs. Contender: A Storied Record
The 31-year-old from Pretoria has had a remarkable year.
He captured the Middleweight title in January by defeating US fighter Sean Strickland via split decision and successfully defended it in August against Nigerian-born Israel “Izzy” Adesanya with a submission victory. Earlier this year, he also bested Strickland in a rematch, proving his dominance in the division.
Press Conference Sparks Tension
During the press conference on Thursday, 14 August, du Plessis and Chimaev faced off before a charged crowd.
As the boos rained down from Chimaev supporters, many expected du Plessis to show nerves.
Instead, he addressed the hostility with calm confidence, saying, “I’ve walked into every fight, especially as the main event, and heard this from the crowd.
But guess what? I walked out the best every single time.”
He added a playful warning to the fans: “That was one of the best boos I’ve heard.
Well done. You’ll run out of steam quickly, don’t worry. I’ve seen this before. Remember this on Saturday.”
Underdog Meets Undefeated
While many consider him the underdog, du Plessis is embracing the challenge of facing a fighter with 14 consecutive wins.
“I’m the world champion. He hasn’t fought a world champion.
He’s fought a former world champion, but he hasn’t fought a world champion. Now he’s coming into this fight for five rounds.
I’ve proven that I can go crazy for one round, or I can go crazy for five rounds,” he explained.
Despite the rivalry, du Plessis praised Chimaev, calling him “an incredible fighter” and noting the difficulty of defeating someone who has remained unbeaten for so long.
“Being a title challenger in the UFC, and no one’s been able to figure him out, that’s impressive,” he added.
Who Will Come Out on Top?
The UFC 319 matchup promises fireworks as the confident champion squares off against the undefeated contender.
Fans are weighing in on the potential outcome, with predictions already sparking debate across social media.