Dricus Du Plessis is no stranger to being the underdog. He’s been overlooked, doubted, and underestimated at nearly every step of his UFC journey. But now, as the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion, he finds himself at the center of the biggest showdown of 2025. With a supercharged title fight against the undefeated Khamzat Chimaev looming—potentially headlining UFC 317 during International Fight Week—Du Plessis has sent a strong message: He knows how to beat “Borz.”

While many fighters have folded under Chimaev’s relentless pressure, Du Plessis believes he has the blueprint to destroy the Chechen phenom. From his unorthodox striking to his psychological fortitude, “Stillknocks” is preparing for a war—and he thinks he can shock the MMA world once again.

Let’s break down what Du Plessis is planning, what this fight means for the division, and why fans should prepare for an unforgettable clash.

Du Plessis Speaks: ‘There’s a Way to Break Him’

In a recent interview with South African sports outlet Sport24, Du Plessis revealed that while he respects Chimaev’s power and wrestling, he doesn’t see him as unstoppable. “Khamzat is aggressive. He comes out like a wild dog. But aggression without control is dangerous—for him. If you don’t fear him, if you don’t fold, he breaks.”

Du Plessis added that many fighters have lost to Chimaev before stepping into the cage. “They believe the hype, they get overwhelmed, and they mentally quit. That’s not me. I’ve faced adversity. I’ve bled, I’ve gassed, and I’ve fought through wars. I’m not scared of him. He needs people to fear him. When that doesn’t happen—he panics.”

According to Du Plessis, the way to beat Chimaev is to survive the storm and then make him question himself. “He’s used to winning early. But if you drag him deep, if you hurt him, he slows down. That’s where I thrive.”

Mental warfare is the real battlefield

What separates Du Plessis from many other middleweights is not just his physical toughness, but his mental resilience. He proved it in back-to-back upsets over Darren Till, Robert Whittaker, and most recently Sean Strickland. In each of those bouts, he was seen as the underdog, yet he emerged victorious through grit, adaptability, and sheer willpower.

In a division where intimidation often decides the outcome before the first punch is thrown, Du Plessis thrives on psychological warfare. “Chimaev is intimidating, but I don’t care about his reputation. This is fighting. This is war. He’s never been in the kind of dogfight I’ll put him through.”

This confidence isn’t just bravado—it’s part of his game plan. Du Plessis knows that Chimaev feeds off dominance. He has rarely had to adjust mid-fight. But Du Plessis has built a reputation on thriving in chaos and adapting on the fly.

The key to victory: Gas tank and grit

One of the biggest question marks around Khamzat Chimaev is his cardio. While he has showcased explosive finishes and aggressive starts, questions still linger about how he handles fights that go beyond two rounds. Against Gilbert Burns, he showed signs of slowing down. Against Usman at catchweight, he looked tentative by the third round.

Du Plessis sees this as the opportunity. “He’s great in the first round. But what happens when he’s tired, when he’s bleeding, and someone is still coming forward? I know what that feels like. I’ve lived in that moment. He hasn’t.”

Du Plessis’ own cardio has been tested in multiple wars. His unorthodox movement and unpredictable offense keep opponents guessing, and his ability to absorb damage while delivering punishment is a major asset in five-round fights.

“My chin is tested. My heart is proven. And my lungs don’t quit,” Du Plessis said. “That’s how you beat Khamzat. You don’t match him in the first round—you survive. Then you break him.”

Tactical warfare: Neutralizing the wrestling

Everyone knows Chimaev’s bread and butter is wrestling. He’s one of the most dominant grapplers in the UFC and has rag-dolled elite opponents with ease. But Du Plessis believes that wrestling alone isn’t enough to win this fight.

“Look at my fights,” Du Plessis said. “I’m not easy to hold down. I scramble. I explode. And when I get up, I come back stronger. If he wants to wrestle, let him. But he better be ready for what comes next.”

Du Plessis has a background in judo and kickboxing, and while his ground game hasn’t been his primary weapon, he’s proven hard to control. Against grapplers like Brad Tavares and Derek Brunson, Du Plessis showed good takedown defense and the ability to fight off his back.

The plan? Use movement, create scrambles, and punish Chimaev with volume. “He shoots, I sprawl. He clinches, I elbow. I make him work. I don’t give him rest. That’s the key,” Du Plessis explained.

Fight Prediction: Will There Be a Shocking Finish?

On paper, many believe Chimaev should win this fight. He’s younger, hungrier, and hasn’t tasted defeat. He’s the betting favorite, and fans see him as the UFC’s next crossover star. But that could be exactly why this fight ends in a shocking conclusion.

Du Plessis thrives as the underdog. He shocked the world when he stopped Whittaker. He silenced doubters when he edged out Strickland. And now, he’s on a mission to derail the UFC’s golden prospect.

If Du Plessis survives the early rounds, don’t be surprised if he begins to take over late in the fight. “This won’t be a quick night,” he warned. “I’m going to drag him into places he’s never been. I’m going to expose his flaws. And when he breaks—I’ll be there to finish him.”

Three bold keywords to remember: Cardio, Pressure, Resilience

This fight might not come down to who’s the most technical striker or the better wrestler. Instead, the outcome may hinge on cardio, pressure, and resilience. Chimaev has shown incredible dominance—but never in deep water. Du Plessis, meanwhile, has made his name in the trenches.

Cardio could make the difference. If Chimaev starts to fade by the third, Du Plessis’ gas tank will be crucial.

Pressure will test both men. Chimaev brings suffocating forward pressure in the opening rounds, but Du Plessis brings relentless volume as the fight wears on.

Resilience is Du Plessis’ secret weapon. He’s never mentally checked out. He’s never stopped coming forward. And he’s never broken.

What This Means for the UFC Middleweight Division

This isn’t just a fight between two elite middleweights. It’s a defining moment for the entire division. If Chimaev wins, he becomes one of the UFC’s few undefeated champions and sets himself up for potential double-champ status with a move to welterweight.

If Du Plessis retains, he legitimizes his championship reign, silences all critics, and potentially lines up a blockbuster rematch with Israel Adesanya—who is reportedly targeting a return in late 2025.

The UFC is banking on this fight to deliver fireworks—and the fighters seem more than ready to oblige.

Training Camp Secrets: How Du Plessis Is Preparing

Sources close to Du Plessis have revealed that his camp at CIT Performance Institute in South Africa has been laser-focused on defensive wrestling, explosiveness, and conditioning. His coaches are bringing in elite wrestlers to simulate Chimaev’s style, and his strength and conditioning work has intensified.

He’s also working closely with mental coaches to ensure he stays sharp and doesn’t fall into the trap that many of Chimaev’s opponents have—getting overwhelmed by the moment.

“We’re preparing for hell,” his coach Morne Visser told MMA Africa. “But Dricus has lived in hell before. That’s where he thrives.”

UFC 317: The Stage Is Set for War

Though the UFC has yet to officially announce the main event for UFC 317, all signs point to Du Plessis vs. Chimaev being confirmed shortly. Dana White teased a “big announcement” for the International Fight Week card, and Chimaev himself posted “good news” shortly afterward—further fueling speculation.

If this fight headlines UFC 317 in Las Vegas, it could go down as one of the most brutal and unpredictable title fights of the year. Both men are undefeated at middleweight. Both have fight-ending power. And both refuse to quit.

Final Thoughts: A Champion’s Mentality

Dricus Du Plessis may not be the UFC’s promotional darling. He may not have the social media following or the marketing machine behind him. But what he has is something far more valuable: an unshakable belief in himself.

While Khamzat Chimaev is undeniably one of the most dangerous fighters on the planet, Du Plessis believes that chaos is where he does his best work. And if this fight becomes the brawl everyone expects, don’t count out the champion just yet.