Du Plessis: Chimaev Is Good At Screaming Online – But In The Arena He Must Shut Up Before My Power

Dricus Du Plessis isn’t here to play by the script. While the UFC world watches Khamzat Chimaev’s rise with awe and some fear, the South African powerhouse is calmly sharpening his tools to rewrite that narrative at UFC 319. This isn’t just another middleweight title defense—it’s a declaration of war on hype, noise, and the myth of invincibility.

Let’s break down why Du Plessis might be the most dangerous opponent Chimaev has faced—and why the storm of UFC 319 might just be coming from the Southern Hemisphere.

The Warrior’s Journey: From EFC to UFC Glory

Before global fame, Dricus Du Plessis made his bones in the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) in South Africa. He wasn’t just winning—he was dominating. With a 12–1 record in regional circuits, his raw power and ground game made him a nightmare for strikers and grapplers alike. Then came KSW, where he took his talents to Poland and won the welterweight title.

But when he landed in the UFC, critics still labeled him a “regional beast.” That label didn’t last long.

| DU PLESSIS: I’ve been underestimated my whole career. That ends at UFC 319.

A Monster of Momentum

Let’s talk numbers. Du Plessis is currently riding a scorching 8-fight win streak, with victories over Darren Till, Derek Brunson, Robert Whittaker, and recently becoming the UFC Middleweight Champion by defeating Sean Strickland at UFC 297.

These aren’t just wins—they’re statement performances. He’s outclassed elite strikers, overwhelmed grapplers, and proved that his gas tank is more than enough to go five rounds of pure war.

The victory over Strickland was especially crucial. Despite the American’s relentless pressure, Du Plessis adjusted mid-fight and began out-pointing him with precise combos and wrestling feints.

| DU PLESSIS: I didn’t take that belt to babysit it. I took it because I earned it.

Why Chimaev’s Style Might Not Work This Time

Khamzat Chimaev thrives on chaos—he storms forward, takes you down, and either batters you or chokes you out. That worked against Li Jingliang, Kevin Holland, and to an extent, Kamaru Usman at catchweight.

But here’s the issue: Du Plessis doesn’t fold under pressure. He’s shown composure in brawls, adaptability under fatigue, and strength in the clinch. Chimaev’s frantic style could actually gas him out, especially if he doesn’t get an early finish.

Let’s not forget that Du Plessis is not afraid of being taken down. He’s a former kickboxing champion with a judo and submission wrestling base, which gives him rare balance—he can stuff takedowns, escape scrambles, or punish you during transitions.

| DU PLESSIS: If he thinks he can ragdoll me, he’ll find out real quick—this ain’t a practice room in Sweden.

Mental Warfare: Cool vs Chaos

While Chimaev screams, flexes, and charges, Du Plessis is the calm in the storm. In the UFC 319 promo content, fans are already noticing the contrast:

• Chimaev yelling at cameras, pacing in interviews.

• Du Plessis? Smiling, quiet, and focused like a man who already knows how this ends.

That mindset might be what sets them apart. There’s no nervous energy in Du Plessis—he’s been to war too many times to feel shaky now.

| DU PLESSIS: The belt is mine. All that’s left is to prove it again.

Conditioning and Five-Round Factor

If UFC 319 becomes a deep-water fight, Du Plessis holds a key advantage. His recent five-round training camps have built a durability that Chimaev has yet to truly test. Their three-round war with Usman showed that Chimaev’s cardio is still in question, especially when faced with resistance.

Du Plessis has proven he can absorb, adjust, and accelerate as rounds progress. That’s a nightmare for a front-runner like Chimaev.

South Africa’s First UFC Superstar

This isn’t just about gold for Du Plessis—it’s about history. A win at UFC 319 cements him as not only South Africa’s greatest MMA fighter but a global star. The UFC’s marketing machine has already pivoted to embrace that possibility, teasing future cards in Cape Town and Johannesburg.

He’s carried the South African flag with pride—and now he’s one win away from global superstardom.

| DU PLESSIS: I fight for my people. This isn’t just personal—it’s national.

What’s at Stake?

For Chimaev, a loss derails years of hype and questions his place in the upper echelon. For Du Plessis, a win is legacy-defining. And for UFC fans? This fight is the answer to a burning question:

Can the hype train survive when it hits unshakable reality?

Expert Predictions Are Split

While oddsmakers slightly favor Chimaev, many analysts are leaning towards Du Plessis for one reason: fight IQ and experience in wars. He’s been tested longer, harder, and more recently. Meanwhile, Chimaev’s lack of consistent fights and weight class jumps have left gaps that could cost him.

MMA insider Daniel Cormier recently shared:
| CORMIER: Du Plessis is a nightmare matchup for Chimaev. He’s too durable, too smart, and he hits like a truck.

Legacy On the Line

If Du Plessis wins at UFC 319, it’s not just another defense—it’s validation of everything he’s fought for. The trash talk, the doubt, the criticism—it all goes away when he raises that belt again in July.

And maybe then, people will stop calling him “underrated.”

No matter the result, UFC 319 promises to be a seismic moment for the middleweight division. But if Du Plessis pulls this off, it won’t just be a win—it’ll be a new chapter in UFC history written by a man who refused to be anyone’s stepping stone.