Dricus du Plessis calls a potential Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev rematch “ridiculous.” The UFC middleweight champion’s blunt assessment exposes deep fractures in the division.
The reigning titleholder made his stance clear during UFC Oklahoma’s post-fight press conference. Du Plessis, who just defeated Brendan Allen via submission, mocked Allen’s performance as “horrible.” He then turned his attention to the rumored rematch. “It doesn’t make sense,” du Plessis said, per MMA Fighting. “Neither Strickland nor Chimaev has a claim over the other for a title shot. It’s ridiculous matchmaking.”
The controversy stems from Chimaev’s lone professional loss—a 2020 decision to Strickland. Both fighters have since taken divergent paths. Strickland lost a title bout to du Plessis in January 2025. Chimaev, meanwhile, has not fought since a lackluster win over Robert Whittaker in 2024. Du Plessis’s criticism targets the UFC’s logic: bypassing ranked contenders like Israel Adesanya or Paulo Costa.
Du Plessis also addressed his own history with Chimaev. In a Yardbarker interview, he admitted a “wrong camp” for his 2023 loss to Chimaev. “I wasn’t prepared,” du Plessis said. “I learned from that. I’m a different fighter now.” The admission suggests the champion feels the rematch ignores his growth. He is ready for Chimaev, but on his terms—not a rushed rematch.
UFC Oklahoma’s fallout solidified du Plessis’s platform. He dominated Allen, mocking his grappling style as “horrible” throughout the bout. The win extended du Plessis’s winning streak to six. It also gave him leverage to demand order. “I’m the champ,” he told MMA Mania. “I decide who fights next. Not a rematch that makes no sense.”
The middleweight chaos exposes a deeper issue: UFC matchmaking integrity. Du Plessis envisions a path featuring Adesanya or Whittaker. Both are legitimate contenders. A Strickland-Chimaev rematch disrupts that. It risks stalling the division for a fight with limited upside. Du Plessis’s rejection is not just personal—it is structural.
Prediction: The UFC faces a choice. Stick with the rematch, risking champion backlash. Or pivot to a traditional title defense. Du Plessis’s recent win and his growth from past mistakes strengthen his bargaining position. The chaos is real. Du Plessis demands order.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What did Dricus du Plessis say about a Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev rematch?
- A: Du Plessis called the potential rematch ‘ridiculous,’ stating that neither Strickland nor Chimaev has a legitimate claim for a title shot, and criticized the UFC for bypassing ranked contenders like Israel Adesanya or Paulo Costa.
- Q: Why does du Plessis think the rematch is unjustified?
- A: He believes the matchmaking lacks logic because Strickland lost a title bout to du Plessis in January 2025, while Chimaev has not fought since a lackluster win over Robert Whittaker in 2024, making them unworthy of an immediate rematch.
- Q: What did du Plessis admit about his 2023 loss to Khamzat Chimaev?
- A: Du Plessis admitted he had a ‘wrong camp’ and wasn’t prepared for the fight, but emphasized that he has learned from that experience and is now a different, more capable fighter ready to face Chimaev on his own terms.
Extended Reading
For detailed breakdowns, see MMA Fighting’s report on du Plessis’s comments, MMA Mania’s UFC Oklahoma coverage, and Yardbarker’s interview on his camp error.