“It’s Ridiculous”: Dricus Du Plessis Reacts to Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Rumor
Dricus du Plessis has pushed back on the idea of Khamzat Chimaev receiving an immediate title rematch with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland. The former champion believes his own record, including two successful defenses and a previous win over Strickland, should carry weight in the next-title-shot discussion.
Strickland regained the 185-pound belt when he edged Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328 in Newark on May 9. Two judges scored the fight 48-47 for Strickland, while the third had it 48-47 for Chimaev, giving the American his second UFC middleweight title reign and handing Chimaev his first professional defeat.
The result ended Chimaev’s reign in his first title defense. He had taken the belt from South Africa’s du Plessis at UFC 319 in August 2025, before Strickland beat him in May.
Dricus du Plessis Calls Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC Title Route “Ridiculous”
Du Plessis sees a problem with the rumored plan to run Chimaev straight back at Strickland. He held the middleweight championship after defeating Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024, then retained it against Israel Adesanya and Strickland before losing it to Chimaev. That creates an awkward queue at the top of the division, especially if the UFC moves directly to a Strickland-Chimaev rematch.
“Between Khamzat and Strickland, there’s no title defense. I defended my title twice. A rematch with Khamzat is ridiculous. It doesn’t make any sense. If they do it, it’s ridiculous,” du Plessis said during an interview with Submission Radio.
Strickland and Chimaev have combined for zero successful title defenses since du Plessis lost the belt, while he defended it twice. Du Plessis also acknowledged the limits of his argument after losing to Chimaev, saying he will let his next performance make the case for his return to contention.
That opportunity arrives this weekend. Du Plessis meets former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the middleweight main event of UFC Fight Night on July 18 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Du Plessis enters at 23-3, while Usman is at 21-4; both men will compete at 185 pounds.
For the South African Du Plessis, the assignment is a chance to respond to the title-picture debate in the cage rather than through interviews. A win would not guarantee he gets Strickland next, but it would make the case against bypassing him much tougher to ignore.
