At UFC 319, two of the most dangerous middleweights in the world will finally collide inside the Octagon: Dricus Du Plessis, the newly crowned UFC Middleweight Champion, and Khamzat Chimaev, the Chechen-born wrecking ball known for his unrelenting aggression and legendary toughness.

The anticipation around this fight is electric. Fans and analysts alike are calling it the most violent and unpredictable matchup of 2025. Chimaev’s steel fist has flattened everyone in his path, but Du Plessis brings something terrifyingly different—something that might just be the key to surviving and conquering “Borz.”

But what exactly is that secret? What does Du Plessis have that other men don’t?

Let’s dig into the terrifying truth behind Du Plessis’s strength—a weapon forged in pain, purpose, and pure chaos.

Chimaev’s Iron Reputation Meets a Wall of Willpower

Before we unveil the mystery, we need to understand the scale of the threat that Dricus Du Plessis is facing.

Khamzat Chimaev is undefeated in the UFC. His resume includes first-round finishes, effortless maulings, and a wrestling game that leaves opponents begging for mercy. His “steel fist” has become legendary—not only for its knockout power but for the way it represents his total dominance.

His mindset is war. His pace is overwhelming. His aura is undeniable.

So why do so many insiders believe that Du Plessis is the most dangerous man Chimaev has ever faced?

The South African Juggernaut: Born in Brutality

To understand Du Plessis’s terrifying strength, you have to go back to his roots in South Africa, where he grew up in a fighting culture forged not in glitz or spotlight, but in pure adversity.

From early on, Dricus was trained in multiple disciplines—karate, judo, wrestling, and eventually kickboxing and MMA. He didn’t just train for sport. He trained for war. He trained because violence was part of survival.

What emerged was a fighter with no fear of pain, no fear of fatigue, and no fear of death in the cage. His gas tank is endless, and his mindset is ruthless.

This isn’t a man who wants to win pretty. This is a man who wins ugly—who thrives in deep, bloody waters where others drown.

Unbreakable Cardio and Chaos Management

One of the most terrifying parts of Du Plessis’s strength isn’t his power or his chin—it’s his ability to weaponize chaos.

He creates brawls. He draws opponents into wild scrambles. He pushes a pace that is awkward, aggressive, and relentless. And most importantly, he never fades.

We saw it against Robert Whittaker, when many doubted he had the skill or cardio to hang. He didn’t just hang—he broke Whittaker’s rhythm and finished him.

We saw it again when he outlasted Sean Strickland, absorbing damage, returning fire, and slowly dragging the fight into his kind of war.

That’s what makes him so terrifying for someone like Chimaev, whose early-round dominance has rarely been tested beyond the second round.

If Du Plessis can survive the first 7 minutes, he enters a place where Chimaev has never been—and may not want to go.

The Secret Weapon: Pain Tolerance Like No Other

Here’s where things get scary.

Multiple coaches and sparring partners have said the same thing: Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t feel pain like a normal human being.

One of his South African training partners revealed:

“We used to hit him with body kicks and elbows in sparring that would make anyone else fold. He just keeps walking forward. It’s like he feeds off the damage.”

This isn’t just toughness. It’s a biological advantage—a freakish level of pain tolerance that gives him an edge against pressure fighters like Chimaev, who rely on breaking spirits, not just bodies.

While Chimaev punches with steel, Du Plessis absorbs it like rubber and returns fire harder.

This isn’t just resilience—it’s war fuel.

Mental Warfare: Du Plessis Is Already in Chimaev’s Head

While Chimaev is known for talking trash and exuding confidence, the lead-up to UFC 319 has shown something different—a little hesitation, a bit of confusion.

Du Plessis, instead of engaging in a shouting match, has been cold and calculated. He’s called Chimaev mentally unstable, even questioning his desire to fight beyond the belt.

“I’m not afraid of his power. He should be afraid of mine. I don’t need to scream—I’ll show him when the cage closes,” Du Plessis told reporters.

Mind games are nothing new in MMA, but Du Plessis’s calm brutality is affecting Chimaev. For a man used to being the hammer, the idea of becoming the nail—even momentarily—is destabilizing.

Chimaev’s Health Questions Raise Doubts

Another terrifying angle for Chimaev fans: questions about his health continue to linger.

Reports have surfaced over the past year about serious health complications, particularly after his bout with Gilbert Burns and his lengthy layoff.

Some insiders claim Chimaev is dealing with autoimmune flare-ups, affecting his ability to cut weight, train at full throttle, and recover between camps.

If that’s true, and Du Plessis pushes him into deep waters, the “steel fist” may no longer be enough. It may shatter against a granite wall of pressure.

Training Camp Evolution: Du Plessis Has Been Studying the Monster

Don’t make the mistake of thinking Du Plessis is going in blind. His team, including Coach Morne Visser, has studied every one of Chimaev’s fights, looking for holes in the storm.

They’ve identified key weaknesses:

• Chimaev’s tendency to get wild when pressured

• His reduced head movement after the first round

• His overreliance on bullying tactics when the opponent doesn’t back up

Du Plessis has trained for all of it. He’s brought in Dagestani wrestlers, pressure strikers, and orthodox bruisers to simulate every aspect of Chimaev’s arsenal.

If there’s a man who’s truly prepared—not just physically, but psychologically—for the Chimaev storm, it’s Dricus Du Plessis.

What Happens If Chimaev Can’t Break Him?

That’s the terrifying scenario everyone is now asking: What if Chimaev lands his best shots—and Du Plessis is still there?

We’ve never seen Chimaev fight someone who won’t go away.

• Burns almost survived—but folded late.

• Usman took the fight on short notice and still took Chimaev to the brink.

• But Du Plessis is fully prepped, fully healthy, and completely unafraid.

If the steel fist hits—and doesn’t end the night—the psychological tide may turn hard, and fast.

Prediction: A War of Attrition and Identity

There’s no doubt that this fight is going to test the limits of both men. Chimaev will come out like a missile, throwing everything he has into the first two rounds.

But if Du Plessis weathers the storm, we may witness a collapse of myth—a deconstruction of the Chimaev aura.

Because the terrifying secret of Dricus Du Plessis isn’t just his physical strength. It’s his willingness to take damage, walk into fire, and grin while doing it.

He’s not just fighting to defend a title.

He’s fighting to survive in hell—and bring the devil down with him.