Du Plessis has the best “gas tank” in the middleweight division and that’s how he beats Chimaev.

When fans and fighters talk about what it takes to stop Khamzat Chimaev, they usually mention power, wrestling defense, or elite striking. But what if the key to beating “Borz” isn’t brute force — it’s relentless endurance?

Why Dricus Du Plessis’s Cardio May Be Chimaev’s Worst Nightmare

Enter Dricus Du Plessis, the current UFC Middleweight Champion, a man known not only for his awkward-but-effective style, but also for his incredible gas tank — arguably the best in the division.

While Chimaev has bulldozed opponents early with suffocating pressure, Du Plessis thrives in chaos, in deep waters, where others drown. And when they meet at UFC 319, it’s that elite cardio that might be the South African’s most lethal weapon.

Du Plessis’s Fighting Style Is Designed for War, Not Sprints

Look at Dricus Du Plessis’s last few fights, and one thing becomes obvious: he doesn’t slow down. Whether it’s pushing the pace against Robert Whittaker, grinding out a five-round war with Sean Strickland, or finishing Derek Brunson by melting him into exhaustion, Du Plessis fights like he’s preparing for a marathon — not a sprint.

While his striking looks unconventional, his timing, pressure, and volume over time wear opponents down. Most importantly, Du Plessis knows how to weaponize his conditioning. He forces fighters to engage when they don’t want to. He stays dangerous late.

“My style may look ugly,” Du Plessis once said, “but it’s built for five rounds of hell.”

That’s a nightmare for Khamzat Chimaev, who has never been truly tested in the championship rounds against someone who won’t go away.

The Chimaev Conundrum: Dominant Early, but Then What?

No one denies that Khamzat Chimaev is an absolute force in the opening minutes of a fight. His first-round smothering of Li Jingliang, his brutal finish of Rhys McKee, and his explosive start against Kevin Holland all showcased a man capable of immediate destruction.

But what happens when Chimaev can’t finish someone in the first round?

That question was asked — and almost answered — in his 2022 war against Gilbert Burns. For the first time, Chimaev was forced to fight three hard rounds. He looked human. Tired. Hesitant. The pace slowed, the takedowns became labored, and the wild aggression turned into cautious exchanges.

And that was just three rounds.

Now imagine five rounds against a fighter like Du Plessis — who doesn’t just survive pressure, he thrives under it.

Du Plessis Breaks People Mentally and Physically

What makes Du Plessis so dangerous isn’t just that he keeps going — it’s that he gets stronger while his opponents fade. He’s a master of the second and third winds, coming back after chaotic rounds with unexpected bursts of energy.

In his title-winning performance against Sean Strickland, many expected Du Plessis to fade under Strickland’s volume and movement. But instead, it was Du Plessis who kept surging forward, absorbing and delivering damage with relentless pressure.

In the later rounds, Strickland’s jab slowed. His movement dipped. Du Plessis, meanwhile, turned up the pace.

“He just wouldn’t stop,” said Strickland post-fight. “I hit him with everything, and he kept coming.”

It’s that exact pressure — that refusal to fade — that could expose the gaps in Chimaev’s endurance.

What the Numbers Say: Du Plessis’s Gas Tank Is Statistically Proven

According to UFC Stats, Du Plessis averages 6.61 significant strikes per minute, with a striking defense of 52%. That’s an elite level output for someone who often goes deep into fights.

What’s even more impressive is that he maintains high output deep into rounds 3, 4, and 5, something only a few fighters in the UFC can do at middleweight. His wrestling doesn’t disappear late either — he’s landed takedowns in the final round of fights, where most fighters are just trying to survive.

Compare that to Chimaev, who, while dominant early, has a limited sample size beyond Round 2, and visibly slows down in extended exchanges.

Can Chimaev Handle Being the Hammer AND the Nail?

There’s a saying in combat sports: “Everyone’s the hammer until they’re the nail.”

Khamzat Chimaev has always been the hammer. From his debut, he’s smothered and broken fighters who couldn’t keep up with his ferocity. But when Gilbert Burns cracked him and forced a dogfight, Chimaev looked vulnerable. He won the decision, yes, but he also looked confused, winded, and unsure of his gas tank.

Du Plessis, on the other hand, has been both. He’s taken big shots, been behind on scorecards, and still found ways to surge late and finish fights. That mental toughness, combined with his absurd cardio, makes him uniquely equipped to break Chimaev if the fight drags past Round 2.

What Experts Are Saying: Du Plessis Is a Different Beast

Many MMA analysts and fighters are picking Chimaev to win — and for good reason. He’s explosive, aggressive, and has a wrestling pedigree that neutralizes most fighters. But several experts have pointed out that Du Plessis is not “most fighters.”

MMA coach Eugene Bareman recently noted,

“People underestimate Du Plessis’s cardio because of how he looks. But trust me, that guy can go five hard rounds and still have something left.”

Michael Bisping also chimed in during a podcast episode:

“Du Plessis doesn’t get tired. He gets dangerous.”

That’s the part people miss. Du Plessis’s durability plus his endless gas tank make him the exact type of fighter that can drag Chimaev into uncomfortable territory.

UFC 319 Could Be the Defining Fight of Chimaev’s Career

Make no mistake: UFC 319 isn’t just about a title. It’s about validating Khamzat Chimaev as a true five-round fighter in the UFC.

So far, Chimaev’s path has been meteoric — but not fully tested. If he can’t pace himself or adjust against someone like Du Plessis, he could gas out and get drowned. And for the first time in his career, he won’t just be facing fists — he’ll be facing a man who doesn’t slow down.

For Du Plessis, this fight is about proving what he already believes: cardio is a weapon, and his is the most dangerous in the division.

How Du Plessis Beats Chimaev: The Blueprint

If you’re wondering how Du Plessis beats Chimaev, here’s the blueprint:

• Survive the early storm. Don’t let Chimaev dominate the first round with takedowns and wild aggression

• Start turning up the pressure in Round 2. Mix in body work, low kicks, and grindy clinch exchanges that force Chimaev to expend energy

• Force scrambles instead of settling on the ground. Chimaev is explosive but often needs rest between wrestling bursts

• Rounds 3 and 4: drown him. Du Plessis should push the pace, engage in dirty boxing, and keep Chimaev moving backward, where he’s far less comfortable

• Finish or overwhelm in Round 5. If Chimaev’s gas tank is broken, this is where Du Plessis takes over completely

It’s not a glamorous strategy. But it’s brutally effective — and built on the foundation of relentless conditioning.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Gas Tank

When fans imagine great fighters, they often picture power, speed, and knockout ability. But sometimes, the most devastating weapon is the ability to keep going when your opponent breaks.

Dricus Du Plessis is not flashy. His style isn’t Instagram-friendly. But when it comes to relentless cardio, no one in the UFC’s middleweight division does it better.

And if Khamzat Chimaev can’t finish things early at UFC 319, he may learn the hard way what happens when your gas tank runs dry against a man who never stops moving forward.

The truth is simple: Du Plessis’s gas tank is his greatest strength — and against a pressure fighter like Chimaev, it might just be the key to victory and legacy.