Earlier this month in Chicago, “Stillknocks” defended his middleweight title against Khamzat Chimaev, and it turned into a nightmare for the champ. Chimaev dominated for all five rounds, shutting down DDP’s game and controlling the fight so thoroughly that Dana White even said it could’ve been scored 50–41. That’s about as lopsided as a title fight gets.
Immediately afterward, du Plessis made no excuses and gave Chimaev full credit. Now, a week later, he’s sticking to that message: he admits he was simply beaten that night, but promises he’ll come back better than ever.
The big question now is: what’s next? Does DDP get a rebound fight against another contender? Does he take time to reset? Or does he try to push for a rematch down the line?
Do you think du Plessis can bounce back and stay a serious player at middleweight, or was UFC 319 the reality check that shows he’s a step below the elite?
, hopefully, he can come back, better and stronger