Dricus du Plessis aims to fight Khamzat Chimaev next to solidify his status as the greatest middleweight, while also expressing interest in a future bout with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Dricus du Plessis has his sights firmly set on Khamzat Chimaev. Fresh off a dominant unanimous decision victory over Sean Strickland at UFC 312, du Plessis isn’t resting. Nope, he’s already eyeing the next big challenge.
During his post-fight interview, du Plessis dropped a memorable quote from the movie Troy, asking, "Is there no one else?"—a clear call-out to light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira. But why Pereira? Well, du Plessis respects him immensely and wants to test himself against the best.
"I’ve got mad respect for Alex Pereira," du Plessis admitted. "He’s done incredible things in such a short time in the UFC. I want to share the octagon with him and prove myself at 205 pounds."
However, a showdown with Pereira might not be happening anytime soon. Pereira is gearing up to defend his title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313. Du Plessis seems okay with that delay—he knows he still has business to handle at 185 pounds.
"Khamzat’s first," du Plessis stated emphatically. "I asked Pereira to beat Ankalaev—not out of hate but because I want to face him eventually. But right now, it’s all about proving I’m the GOAT of the middleweight division."
Du Plessis acknowledges legends like Anderson Silva and Israel Adesanya but believes it’s about quality over quantity—who you fight and how you fight them. He insists he’s not rushing into a fight with Pereira; instead, he wants Chimaev next.
Chimaev recently dismantled Robert Whittaker in a first-round submission at UFC 308, earning Submission of the Year honors. If du Plessis can hand Chimaev his first career loss, it’ll be a massive boost to his legacy.
But even if he beats Chimaev, du Plessis recognizes the competition isn’t getting any easier. New contenders like Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho are making waves at 185 pounds, possibly delaying his eventual clash with Pereira.
"The top 5 has been turned upside down," du Plessis noted excitedly. "Izzy and Whittaker are now fourth and fifth in the rankings. We’ve got Strickland, Khamzat, Caio, and Imavov—all vying for their shot."
In conclusion, du Plessis suggests an intriguing matchup: Caio vs. Imavov. Whoever wins that bout could be next in line after his anticipated battle with Khamzat.