Du Plessis Heads to UFC Fight Night 281 to Earn Fresh Title Shot Dricus du Plessis, the South African UFC middleweight champion, is set to return to the Octagon at UFC Fight Night 281 on July 18th at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. This will mark his first fight since losing his title to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in August 2025. The event will feature du Plessis in a highly anticipated matchup, though the opponent remains uncertain. While Kamaru Usman, the former UFC welterweight champion, is expected to face him, he has yet to sign his contract, leaving the possibility of a last-minute replacement open. The fight carries significant weight for du Plessis, who aims to reclaim his place in the middleweight title picture. The current champion, Sean Strickland, has previously defeated du Plessis twice, and the South African fighter will need a decisive victory to challenge Strickland or the No.1 contender, Nassourdine Imavov. Joe Pyfer has also been mentioned as a potential challenger. A win for du Plessis would not only restore his reputation but also position him as a serious contender for the middleweight title. Du Plessis’s return to the Octagon follows a 11-month hiatus after his controversial loss to Chimaev. The defeat, which occurred at UFC 319, saw du Plessis dominated on the ground, suffering 12 takedowns in 25 minutes and being outstruck 529 to 45. The loss marked the end of his reign as the first South African to win a UFC title, which he secured by defeating Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024. Despite his success, du Plessis admitted he had lost his competitive drive after the title loss, prompting a break from the sport. The fight against Usman, if confirmed, would test du Plessis’s ability to address the issues that led to his previous defeat.#nassourdine_imavov #khamzat_chimaev #sean_strickland #dricus_du_plessis #ufc_fight_night_281
Strickland stuns rival Chimaev for UFC's middleweight title Sean Strickland (31-7) reclaimed the UFC middleweight championship with a razor-close split decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev (17-1) at UFC 238 in Newark, N.J. The five-round contest, which ended in a 48-47 split decision for Strickland, marked his second title reign after he first won the belt in September 2023 by defeating Israel Adesanya. Chimaev, who had previously been undefeated, fell to 17-1 following the loss. Two of the three judges scored the fight in favor of Strickland, while the third split the decision in Chimaev’s favor. The result highlighted the intense rivalry between the two fighters, whose animosity had simmered since a 2022 incident at Strickland’s Las Vegas gym. The buildup to the fight was marred by personal attacks from Strickland, who called Chimaev a "coward" and a "dog" during promotional appearances. The tension escalated further when Chimaev kicked Strickland during a promotional stare-down on Thursday, prompting the UFC to bolster security measures. Police were stationed outside the venue, and the fighters were housed separately to prevent any incidents. Despite the hostility, both fighters displayed mutual respect after the bout, with Chimaev wrapping the championship belt around Strickland’s waist. Strickland’s victory was hard-earned, as the fight began with Chimaev dominating the early rounds. In the first 15 seconds, Chimaev took Strickland down and spent much of the first round on top, attempting rear-naked chokes. Strickland barely managed to survive the round, relying on defensive tactics to avoid submission. The momentum shifted dramatically in the second round when Chimaev’s energy waned, and his takedowns lost their explosive power.#israel_adesanya #khamzat_chimaev #sean_strickland #ufc_238 #newark_nj
UFC 328: Expert Predictions for Khamzat Chimaev vs. Sean Strickland Khamzat Chimaev aims to defend his UFC middleweight championship for the first time when he faces former titleholder Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday. Chimaev, who secured the belt by defeating Dricus du Plessis at UFC 319 last August, remains undefeated in his professional MMA career and is ranked No. 5 in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings. His past three victories have all come against former UFC champions, including Kamaru Usman, Robert Whittaker, and du Plessis. Strickland, ranked No. 4 in the middleweight division, enters the fight after a third-round TKO win over Anthony Hernandez in February. This will be his fourth middleweight title fight, following his 2023 victory over Israel Adesanya to claim the belt. However, Strickland has since lost his next two title bouts to du Plessis in 2024 and 2025. The matchup marks a rematch of sorts, as Strickland previously challenged du Plessis for the title. A panel of three former UFC fighters provided insights and predictions for the main event. Dustin Poirier expressed confidence in Chimaev’s ability to secure the win, noting that Strickland’s takedown defense, while decent, may not be sufficient to counter Chimaev’s aggressive style. Poirier highlighted Strickland’s footwork as a critical factor, suggesting that if Strickland fails to maintain a strong defensive stance, Chimaev’s pressure could overwhelm him. Poirier also emphasized Strickland’s reliance on front-foot jabs and teep kicks, which, while effective, may not be enough to halt Chimaev’s momentum.#prudential_center #newark_new_jersey #ufc_328 #khamzat_chimaev #sean_strickland
