Can Anyone Stop Khamzat Chimaev's Reign of Terror? That's the question on every MMA fan's mind, and Dricus du Plessis, a man who's faced the undefeated champion, has some intriguing thoughts. After losing his middleweight title to Chimaev last summer, du Plessis is now backing Sean Strickland to give the champion a run for his money. But here's where it gets controversial: du Plessis, who holds two wins over Strickland, believes his former opponent has the style to cause Chimaev problems.
On The Ariel Helwani Show, du Plessis expressed his confidence in Strickland's abilities: “I honestly think Strickland will do great against Khamzat. His style, I think, would give him trouble.” This is a bold statement, considering Strickland's recent knockout victory over Anthony Hernandez at UFC Houston has propelled him to the front of the contender line.
Du Plessis goes even further, claiming Strickland is a tougher matchup for Chimaev than Nassourdine Imavov, another top contender at 185 lbs. He highlights Strickland's striking prowess and his impressive ability to get back to his feet after being taken down, a skill du Plessis witnessed firsthand in their two encounters.
And this is the part most people miss: du Plessis believes Strickland's physical strength is often underestimated, and his technique for escaping takedowns is top-notch.
This raises a crucial question: Is Strickland the biggest threat to Chimaev's undefeated streak? While du Plessis himself is eager to reclaim his title, an injury has sidelined him since his loss to Chimaev at UFC 319. He was aiming for a comeback at UFC 327 in April, but an injury forced him to postpone. He's hopeful for a May return, but it's still uncertain.
What do you think? Can Strickland dethrone Chimaev, or is du Plessis underestimating the champion's dominance? Let us know in the comments!
With a stacked middleweight division featuring the likes of Imavov, Brendan Allen, Israel Adesanya, and the rising Bo Nickal, the race to challenge Chimaev is heating up. Who will emerge as the ultimate challenger? Only time will tell.
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